Addis Ababa, 9 May 2015 (WIC) – Parliament Speaker, Dr. Al-Fateh Ezzedin praised the efforts of Ethiopia and Sudan in strengthening their bilateral relations.
The speaker while receiving the Ethiopian Public Delegates at Khartoum airport witnessed considerable improvement during the era of late Meles Zinawi and his counterpart President Omer Al Bashir, pointing out that the two leaders put the relations in its appropriate path and pushed it forward.
Parliament Speaker said that the visiting delegation with this number of MPs, businessmen, academics, culture and art figures is considered the biggest popular delegation in the history of the relations between the two countries.
It is to be noted that Sudanese-Ethiopian relations is deep rooted since Axum and Meroe civilizations. These deep-rooted relations are because of the similar geographical, cultural, and popular nature besides the ancient economical and historical factors.
To support this distinguished eternal relations between the governments of the two countries and to build strong links between the people of the two nations, an Ethiopian popular diplomacy delegation will visit Sudan.
The delegation, which is considered the first of its kind, will be headed by the Chairman of the People’s Representatives Council in the Ethiopian parliament.
The delegation includes more than 80 Ethiopian prominent figures in all aspects of live as it includes academics, political parties’ leaders, businessmen, religious leaders, ex-ambassadors, artists, composers and other figures in different sectors.
The delegation arrived in Khartoum on Friday 8th May, 2015 and it is expected that the delegation will convey a message from the Ethiopian people to the Sudanese people affirming that both the Ethiopian and the Sudanese governments are committed to achieve the joint growth to form the strongest relations between the two countries and to boost the joint cooperation in all aspects, besides utilizing those relations for the benefit of the people of the two countries.
The delegation will meet the President of the Republic, the Parliament Speaker, and ministers of Foreign Affairs, Investment, Water Resources, and Khartoum State Governor besides religious and political leaders.
The delegation will visit several historical sites in the country.
The programme of the visit includes organizing a forum on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the utilization of Nile waters.
An Ethiopian Band will present musical performances in collaboration with Sudanese bands.
Big number of the Ethiopian community in Khartoum was at the airport to receive the delegation which comprises a number of Ethiopian popular troupes and folkloric groups as well as artists and sportsmen.
The visit is sponsored by the Sudanese International People’s Friendship Council, led by Ambassador Abdul Moneim Al Sunni in collaboration with the Sudanese parliament.
Ethiopia’s ambassador to the Sudan, Abadi Zemo, noted in press statements published Friday the visit aims at providing a message from the Ethiopian peoples to the Sudanese people on the great commitment of the Ethiopian government and people on the achievement of the joint development and” to enhance the joint cooperation in all domains for the interest of the peoples of the two countries.”
The Ethiopian ambassador said that the visiting Ethiopian delegation will visit Merowe Dam, some of the Sudanese historical sites besides holding of meetings with the delegations members with their Sudanese counterparts.
Sudan two months ago, helped bring closer Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction of the Ethiopian renaissance dam, a move that greatly reduced tension in the region. Sudanese investments are the second largest in Ethiopia, and Ethiopian nationals in Sudan form the largest single community in the country.
“The renaissance dam will be a boost to combat poverty not only in the two countries but in the region at large, “the two speakers stressed. (Sudan Vision)