By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
 
September 28, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) - The Ethiopian government has renewed its commitment to maintaining durable peace and security in the volatile East African region.
 
While delivering a speech during the signing ceremony on cooperative agreement between Sudan and South Sudan, information minister, Breket Simon noted Ethiopian’s role in achieving peace between South Sudan and its northern counterpart, saying that his country will continue to contribute to bring peaceful resolutions to other conflicts in the region.
 
“It is our firm conviction that no country in the region can prosper or live in peace while its neighbours are facing difficulties in security,” he said adding “that is one of the basic reasons why Ethiopia continues to strengthen collective security architecture of the region and beyond.”
 
Simon congratulated Sudan and South Sudan for reaching the long-anticipated agreement which was signed on Thursday in Ethiopian capital.
 
Simon also said Ethiopia has always been a close friend and ally to both Sudans and will remain to be so.
 
The country has been playing a key diplomatic role in the peaceful separation of the two Sudans.
 
Ethiopia is seen as reliable broker by Sudan and South Sudan and has been hosting a number of negotiation meetings aimed at resolving pending post-secession issues between the two states.

Ethiopia currently has a peacekeeping force deployed in the disputed Abiye region; the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei.

(ST)