Ethiopian, Russian foreign ministers in talks in Moscow

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 14, 2005 (ENA) — The government of Russia will assist in the efforts to see the peace proposal Ethiopia recently put forward to resolve the dispute with Eritrea implemented, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

The Russian foreign minister made the pledge during talks in Moscow with his Ethiopian counterpart Seyoum Mesfin on Thursday 13 January. The two sides, on the occasion, dwelt, at length, on the Ethiopian-Russian bilateral cooperation and other issues of common interest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told ENA in a press release on Friday 14 January.

Lavrov, on the occasion, said the Ethiopian government, with its latest peace initiative, proves itself committed to peace. He said Russia has already expressed support to the peace initiative. The two sides agreed to hold the Ethiopian-Russian Joint Commission Meeting in mid this year, the release said.

During his stay, Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin, along with the chairman and members of the foreign relations committee of the Russian Federation, provided briefing on issues of development and democratization process in the Horn of Africa, conflict situations in the region as well as on ways of strengthening the relations between Russia and the African Union, the release indicated.

Following the talks and briefing, Foreign Minister Seyoum and his Russian counterpart Lavrov provided a joint press statement. After concluding his three-day visit to Russia, Seyoum returned home later on Thursday.