Ethiopia-US cooperation steadily growing – Zenawi
May 29, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Monday the multidimensional cooperation between Ethiopia and the United States has been steadily growing.
During talks with U.S. Senator James M. Inhof at his office, Meles said cooperation between the two governments in development and other sectors is in good shape, Chinese Xinhua reported.
Besides supporting development activities in Ethiopia, the U.S. government is providing assistance for the democratization process in the country, he said.
The Ethiopian prime minister also said that the existing development cooperation between the two countries need to be further enhanced.
Meles said the cooperation in the fields of trade and investment should also be improved.
Senator Inhof, who was here on a working visit, told journalists after the talks that significant changes have been taking place in Ethiopia from time to time.
He added that the efforts exerted towards accelerating the nation’s development have enabled the country register marked economic growth.
Inhof, who visited Ethiopia several times, appreciated the positive changes witnessed in the country, saying that he has special attachment to Ethiopia and adopted an Ethiopian baby girl.
The United States considers Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa’s top military power, a key counter-terrorism ally in the area.
The United States has said it will not follow other donors in withholding aid to Ethiopia over a government crackdown on opposition supporters, and will not cut the 600 million U.S. dollars it is giving for development and fighting HIV/AIDS.
(ST)