ETHIOPIA: Eritrean officials visit Ethiopia for first time in 20 years for Talks
For the first time in 20 years a high-level Eritrean delegation, led by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for talks on ending the decades-long conflict between the two countries.
The Eritrean delegation, led by Mr Saleh, was welcomed earlier on Tuesday by Mr Abiy in the capital Addis Ababa, where a red carpet was rolled out and the visitors were offered garlands of flowers.
The arrival of an Eritrean delegation to Ethiopia is a major step towards mending relations between neighbours in the Horn of Africa. The Diplomatic ties have been cut between the two countries for almost 20 years.
According to Online News Agencies the meeting is just one of a series of reforms the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, His Excellency Abiy Ahmed, who became prime minister after his predecessor resigned in February, has enacted since he took over power.
The Ethiopia’s prime minister said he would accept a peace deal awarding Eritrea disputed territory.
Speaking for Ethiopia, Mr Abiy said: “Let this dispute conclude with this generation. Let the era of love and reconciliation commence.”
In November last year AMECEA Bishops, led by AMECEA Vice Chairman, Most Rev Thomas Msusa embarked on a solidarity visit to Eritrea in order to express their solidarity with the Church in Eritrea in their concerns and challenges.
In their statement, AMECEA Bishops reiterated their role which is one of agendas in the fourth coming AMECEA Plenary especially in reflecting upon the role of religious leaders and churches in bringing about reconciliation and lasting peace between the two countries and the entire AMECEA region.
Eritrea won independence from Ethiopia in 1993.
SOURCE: Online News Agency
