Ethiopia’s Prime Minister says Sanaa Forum is open to all
December 30, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, stressed that Sana’a Forum for Cooperation, which was established in 2002 is not designed to exclude any country and does not have specific targets, but is open to all States in the space of the organisation.
Sana’a forum comprises Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This year Djibouti for the first time attended the summit of the regional grouping. However, Ethiopia’s regional foe, Eritrea, still refuses to join it. Asmara also suspended its membership in the IGAD after denouncing its position on Addis Ababa “meddling in the Somali affairs”.
Speaking at the opening session of the sixth summit of the Sana’a Forum in Khartoum Tuesday, Zenawi said that as the regional organisation is established to expand overall cooperation among countries located south of the Red Sea, its door is open to countries, which support objectives of the forum.
He added that the forum aims to protect the coasts of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea through the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region.
The out going president of the forum said despite the accomplished progress, still there are various activities should be carried out to enhance existing security, political and economic cooperation among the countries.
He also urged to establish a permanent Secretariat for the forum.
On the situation in Somalia, Zenawi said that Somalia remains a challenge in the region and that Ethiopia had decided to withdraw its troops in Somalia but underscored that the Somalis were able to achieve peace in their country.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister further said that the international community has not taken fair measures to maintain peace in Somalia. The international community in particular the Security Council should contribute to bring about sustainable peace in Somalia, he said.
(ST)