Addis Ababa, 5 September 2014 (WIC) – Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi are set to meet during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this month as efforts continue to improve bilateral ties.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom revealed on Thursday that a meeting is to be held between Egypt’s President El-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on September 16 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Dr. Tedros said that the meeting is of great importance in terms of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. Dr. Tedros added that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry’s visit to Addis Ababa was an important reflection of the new partnership between Egypt and Ethiopia.
Shoukry, who arrived in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday for talks on the country’s Grand Renaissance Dam project, said that Egyptian-Ethiopian relations are improving amid mutual eagerness for closer ties between the two countries.
The most recent round of talks between Egypt and Ethiopia in the Sudanese capital Khartoum reflects a significant easing of the crisis that the dam has caused.
Egypt’s irrigation minister said last week that 85 percent of issues pertaining to the dam had been resolved.
Dr. Tedros pointed out that the talks with Shoukry during his visit included topics beyond the dam, noting that both countries plan to sign cooperation agreements soon to strengthen relations in a variety of fields.
He also stressed that both countries aim to strengthen ties between Egyptians and Ethiopians, and that the relations must not only be on the governmental level.
Shoukry added that Egypt is keen to support Ethiopia’s development through joint-projects and investment, adding that the Nile River is central to the development of both countries. (ahram.org)