Sudanese presidential advisor lauds Ethiopia’s role in regional peace

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

September 16, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudanese Presidential Adviser and Chairman of the External Relations Sector in the National Congress Party (NCP), Mustafa Osman Ismail, said the Ethiopian government is playing a leading role in the maintainence of peace and stability in Sudan and in the Horn of Africa region as a whole.

Ismail made the remarks while delivering a speech at the opening of the three-day annual conference of the Ethiopian Ruling Party, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which won a land slide victory in the country’s May 23, 2010 national election.

Ismail said the historic Ethiopia and Sudan ties stand firm, further lauding Ethiopia’s supportive stance towards Sudan in the ongoing efforts to bring lasting peace and stability in the troubled region of Darfur, citing Ethiopia’s role and contributions in Sudan’s peacekeeping operations.

In his speech Ismail addressed participants on the progress achieved in maintaining peace in Darfur, the current progress of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), in which north and south agreed to lay down arms after 22 years of civil war, and the preparations being carried out for the January 11 scheduled referendum where southern Sudanese will be able to vote on whether to form a new country or remain united with the north.

Ismail expressed the NCP’s keenness to work with the EPRDF to further boost the existing multilateral ties based on mutual interest of the sister countries.

He noted that the economic growth registered in Ethiopia is the outcome of the excellent leadership of the current EPRDF government led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

In the eighth organizational congress of EPRDF being held in Adama town of the Oromia state, attendees discussed reports of the executive with Zenawi responding to questions.

The conference will windup tomorrow and is expected to endorse the Five Year Growth and Transformation Plan – an ambitious plan which purports to help the nation double it’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and country sees its economy boosted by 15% in the coming five years.

Among others, directions will be set on ways in which to create competetive job opportunities for the youth, empowerment of women, expansion of industry and other agricultural development activities and improving external competitiveness via exporting more local products.

(ST)