Ethiopia, South Sudan end juba meeting, sign accord
July 24, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Regional officials from Ethiopia and from the semi-autonomous southern Sudan on Thursday winded-up their three-day Juba consultation meeting and signing an enforcement agreement to further put in effect the implementation of ongoing joint development cooperation .
Both parties have signed agreements that enable to jointly speed up the completion of ongoing development projects in their respective adjacent states and regions, said a statement from the Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Among others, signed agreements include social affairs, economic, infrastructure, capacity building and security issues.
During the joint regional development cooperation consultation meeting Ethiopian deputy foreign minister Dr. Tekeda Alemu who led the Ethiopian delegation reaffirmed that his country will provide additional support for south Sudan’s capacity building efforts.
The Ethiopian Minister further pledges that Ethiopia will remain dedicated to stick to its promises to implement all agreements reached by both sisterly governments.
Juba meeting has evaluated the implementation of the agreements from its first Addis Ababa meeting to be in good performance. Accordingly the construction of a road that links south Sudan with southern Ethiopia and Gambella regions is said to be well underway.
Ethiopia and south Sudan share over 1000 kilometer long common border. Peoples of both sides that lie along the joint border have strong cultural and tribal links. They have never been beneficiaries of such joint cooperation until a landmark comprehensive peace agreement was signed between Sudanese parties in 2005.
Both sides have decided their third cooperation meeting next year to be held in Ethiopia’s southern state’s capital, Awassa.
After their first meeting in Addis Ababa last year, the joint cooperation of both neighbors has executed wide range of joint projects.
Standing agreements between both governments include road, air transport, telecom, trade, Investment and security.
Such regional relations have above all cemented and promoted a peaceful neighborhood between the historically related tribes along the common border.
(ST)