Russian-Ethiopian trade links not fulfilling their potential: Russian FM

MOSCOW, Jan 13, 2005 (ITAR-TASS) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for “the more effective use of the economic potential of relations between Russia and Ethiopia”. He announced this today following talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Seyoum Mesfin.

The Russian minister described the talks as “extremely productive and corresponding to the agendas outlined by the leaders of the two countries”. The meeting “discussed a wide range of bilateral and international relations, and also issues of conflict settlement in Africa”.

Lavrov noted that “Russian-Ethiopian relations, which are based on cultural and historical traditions, are on the ascent”. He pointed out that “the potential for trade and economic links between the two countries is not being sufficiently exploited”.

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, “a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic and scientific cooperation is planned for the middle of this year”. At the meeting, Lavrov noted, “mechanisms will be created to monitor the results achieved”. He believes that “with the participation of the private sector increased economic cooperation is possible”.

“Russia,” Lavrov said, “supports the initiatives put forward by Ethiopia for achieving progress in the Ethiopia-Eritrea settlement”. The minister praised “Addis-Ababa’s attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict with the participation of the UN and the African Union”.

For his part, the Ethiopian foreign minister highlighted “the large role played and the great support given by Russia to African countries in the fight against modern-day threats”. He noted “the positions shared by the two countries on many key problems” and spoke in favour of “broadening direct trade links between Russia and Ethiopia”.

Material from from the BBC Monitoring Service, original in Russian.