Deputy PM Hailemariam meets Sudan's Foreign Minister and the UK's Representative on Sudan
At the weekend [6th -7th Nov], Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ato Hailemariam Desalegn, met with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Sudan, Mr. Ali Karti. Mr. Karti was in Addis Ababa to attend a meeting of the AU Consultative Forum on Sudan. His discussions with Ato Hailemariam covered both bilateral and regional issues, and both ministers reiterated their governments’ appreciation of the current level of bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding. Both, however, expressed the need to cooperate further in the economic field, to organize business-to-business council relationships and increase exchanges of trade. Mr. Karti noted that Ethiopia and the Sudan had good resources, extensive opportunities, and a real willingness to work together and further expand their potential over a wide range of bilateral cooperation areas. Ato Hailemariam expressed his satisfaction with the existing excellent relations and the current fruitful bilateral cooperation. He commended the work of the Joint Ministerial Commission and the Joint Border Development Commission. These bilateral bodies meet bi-annually and annually respectively to review the status of their cooperation and identify further areas of mutual interest.
Ato Hailemariam emphasized that since Ethiopia shared a border both with the south and the north of Sudan, it believed that whatever affects the Sudan will affect Ethiopia in the same manner. Ethiopia considers the issue of the Sudan as a priority to which it is giving serious attention. He stressed that the two parties needed to make progress on the issue of Abyie which demands an amicable solution. He reiterated that the CPA remains the only framework to resolving the problems in accordance with the spirit and letter of the agreement. Ato Hailemariam also noted that as Sudan was a member of the Arab League, Ethiopia would like to see it encourage the organization to further support the TFG and help address the problems posed by Al-Shabaab. Ethiopia and Sudan are important regional states and could play significant roles in the consolidation of peace in the sub-region and strengthen regional integration. Minister Karti made it clear that whatever the outcome of the referendums, Sudan would remain a reliable partner for Ethiopia. He appreciated the role being played by Ethiopia as a neutral actor over the Sudan issue, and by the African Union, as a mediator and a facilitator. He said that the effort by Africans to help the Sudanese parties resolve their problems is a clear demonstration that Africans are capable of resolving their problems by themselves. On regional issues, Mr. Karti reiterated the readiness of the Sudanese government to contribute to resolving the crises in Somalia, and he commended the efforts made by Ethiopia to resolve the problems there. Both Ministers reiterated the need to work to promote peace and stability in the sub-region. They emphasized the need to further coordinate their activities in different forums such as IGAD, the Sana'a Cooperation Forum and the African Union to ensure peace and stability in the region as well as in Africa itself.
Meanwhile, Ato Hailemariam also met Mr. Michael Rayder, the UK Senior Representative for the Sudan, on 6th November, exchanging views on the ongoing developments in the Sudan, the current situation in the Horn of Africa, and other regional and global issues. Mr. Rayder appreciated Ethiopia's contributions to peace in the Horn of Africa and emphasized the importance of cooperation in combating terrorism in the region. He also noted the commitment of the Ethiopian government to assisting both parties to break the deadlock on the Abyei negotiations and on post-referendum arrangements. Ethiopia, he said, had earned the trust and confidence of both parties to the CPA to help resolve remaining critical issues amicably, and he expressed the UK's readiness to closely work with Ethiopia towards the realization of the CPA. He commended Ethiopia’s efforts to bring the two parties together to ensure a peaceful January Referendum. Abyie was becoming increasingly contentious but must be resolved peacefully on the basis of the CPA and the rulings of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Ato Hailemariam expressed Ethiopia’s appreciation to the government and the people of the UK for their continuous support for Ethiopia’s fight against poverty. He stressed Ethiopia’s commitment to ensuring peace in the Sudan and IGAD's efforts to contribute to the successful completion of the referendum. He thanked the UK for its interest in the Sudan, particularly during the UK's Presidency of the UN Security Council. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Ethiopia had been careful to remain balanced on Sudan, and as a result had the trust of both parties. It would continue to encourage both parties to ensure the peaceful and successful conduct of the January Referendum in the interests of peace and stability in the Sudan and in the sub-region. On Somalia, Minister Hailemariam stressed that the absence of peace and security not only destabilized the sub-region, but also had a much wider impact because of the threat of terrorism and piracy.