Somalia government opens embassy in Ethiopia
April 4, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Transitional government of Somalia officially opened its embassy in Addis Ababa today after 15 years of closure, the Ethiopian TV reported.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin, Ali Mohammad Gedi, prime minister of Somalia, ambassadors, diplomats and senior government officials were present when the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia officially opened its embassy in Addis Ababa today after 15 years of closure.
During the ceremony, Seyoum Mesfin said that the opening of the embassy clearly shows the end of the dark era in the Somali people’s history. Seyoum said Somalis are required to be resolute in their future activities.
He also urged them not repeat what was done in the past 15 years. Seyoum said Ethiopia in collaboration with Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) had been giving its utmost support to Somalia to reach where it now was and reiterated Ethiopia would continue giving its support in future.
He further said he wanted to assure the prime minister and the Somali brothers and sisters that Ethiopians were committed to giving their utmost support. Seyoum also announced that Ethiopia had resolved to open its embassy in Jowhar, the seat of the Somalian government.
On his part, Ali Mohammad Gedi, the Somali prime minister, said the opening of the embassy would further strengthen the existing relations between the two countries.
He said the opening of the embassy marked the end of the artificial misunderstanding which existed between the two countries for many years and would help to start afresh good neighbourliness and cooperation between the two countries.
The prime minister also said that the opening of the embassy woud further strengthen its relations with Ethiopia, AU and with the international community.
The EU Commissioner, Ambassador Tim Clark, who attended the ceremony said that the commission would give its support to the Somali government.
(ST)