Ethiopia’s PM, US official discuss Horn of Africa issues

June 23, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has held talks with the US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer on the existing cooperation between the two countries and Horn of Africa issues.

While briefing journalists after her meeting with Meles, Frazer told journalists that the relations between the two countries are currently in a good situation. She said her discussions with Prime Minister Meles focused on cooperation between the two countries, democratization process in Ethiopia and international issues.

She said her discussions with Meles mainly focused on the Horn of Africa issues, the current situation in Somalia and the situation in Darfur, Sudan.

She said holding talks between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the Union of Islamic Courts in a bid to resolve the problems in the country peacefully could be very helpful. She said it would be helpful for the Union of Islamic Court to hold talks with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. She also said that they also discussed the importance of helping the various institutions of the transitional government.

Prime Minister Meles and Frazer during their discussion reiterated that the Somali issue deserves the attention of the international community, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who attended the meeting said.

They also noted that the efforts of IGAD and AU to resolve the Somali issue should further be strengthened.

(ST)