The Ethiopian Herald (Addis Ababa)

By ENA
Addis Ababa

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says the long standing friendship between the governments of Ethiopia and the Sudan will be further strengthened.

Speaking at the closing of the joint consultative meeting of the two countries in Khartoum, Prime Minister Meles said his government will be exerting maximum efforts towards the realization of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of politics, common security as well as trade and social affairs.

ETV reporter reported from Khartoum that the high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was accorded a warm welcome upon arrival later Wednesday at the Khartoum International Airport by President Oumar Hassan Al Beshir and senior government officials of that country.

Yesterday, the delegations of the two countries deliberated at length on bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Meles also held talks with his Sudanese counterpart on government to government and people to people relations.

Meles also held talks with Sudanese first vice president, who is also the leader of SPLM/A, on Sudan peace process and Ethio-Sudan cooperation. He also conferred with Sudanese Vice President Ousman Mohammed Taha on reconstruction in the Sudan and on joint security of the two countries.

Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told journalists that the joint congress and the Ethio-Sudan bilateral agreements were of paramount importance for the peoples of the two countries.

He said a follow-up joint committee led by deputy foreign ministers of the two countries was set up to monitor the implementation of the bilateral agreements signed in the framework of the Ethio-Sudan cooperation.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi returned home later yesterday after the joint consultative meeting.

The consultative meeting was held at three levels: at the level of a joint technical committee, ministerial level consultation and at the level of heads of state and governments of the two countries.