Ethiopian DPM, MoF Demeke Mekonnen welcomes Austrian Foreign Minister

Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia today (January 14) received the Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, and exchanged views on a wide range of issues including the current situation in Tigray and developments in the Sub-region.

At the meeting Demeke said Ethiopia and Austria enjoy a long-standing bilateral relationship that is a century old and remains firm today with cooperation between the two countries growing strong on various fronts.

Speaking on the current situation in the country, the Minister said that the law enforcement measure in Tigray was effectively concluded and the reconstruction and rehabilitation activities are now being undertaken to ensure that the development challenges of the region are addressed and humanitarian assistance is delivered timely and efficiently to the people in need.

Humanitarian organizations are working in close coordination with the Government to scale-up the efforts in the provision of humanitarian assistance in the region, said the Minister.

Demeke also underscored the fact that ever since the new administration has assumed power; it has contributed enormously to the positive developments registered in the Sub-region to ensure sustainable peace and development.

Schallenberg, on his part, said that Ethiopia is an important strategic country that plays a key role in the region and, as one of the priority countries for the Austrian development cooperation programme, it remains committed to continue to support the development efforts of the Ethiopian Government to bring about sustainable growth and development in the country.

Schallenberg also underlined the need to continue with the progress achieved to ensure that the humanitarian assistance reaches the people in need and expressed the readiness of Austria to work together with the Ethiopian Government to continue to provide the necessary assistance to scale-up the work of humanitarian assistance and confidence building.

Both Ministers have agreed to continue to work together to further strengthen the long-standing relations that exist between the two sisterly countries and to enhance collaboration in multilateral diplomacy.

(Source: The Minister of Foreign Affair of Ethiopia)