Ethiopian PM, Qatari Emir discuss global, regional issues
ADDIS ABABA, Feb 21, 2005 (Ethiopian radio) — Ethiopia and Qatar have signed technical and economic cooperation agreement aimed at further enhancing their relationship to a higher level.
According to discussions between Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Emir Hamad Bin-Khalifah Bin-Khalifah Al-Thani in Doha, the two countries have expressed willingness to enhance their relationship in the trade, investment and tourism sectors.
Prime Minister Meles, who started his official visit at the invitation of the Qatari government today, was welcomed at the Doha International Airport by Shaykh Abdallah Bin-Khalifah Al-Thani and other senior government officials.
The objective of the prime minister’s two-day official visit is aimed at creating a conducive atmosphere aimed at enhancing the existing relationship between Ethiopia and Qatar to a higher level.
During their talks at the Doha Palace, Prime Minister Meles and the Qatari leader discussed ways and means of enhancing the bilateral relationship in the trade, investment, tourism and economic sectors.
According to Adis Dilnesa, director-general of the Asia and Middle East Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the relationship of the two countries which started in the mid 1990s, has focused on diplomatic, economic and social sectors, but could not bring about the required results. According to him, the current visit of Prime Minister Meles is expected to create a favourable ground for improved relationship.
Adis said most of Qatar’s agricultural products are imported from other countries and given the proximity to Ethiopia, the two leaders have stressed that the two countries could benefit if Qatar imported horticultural produce from Ethiopia.
In the social sector, Qatar has untapped labour and conducive working atmosphere, it wants Ethiopians to take part in various sectors.
The two leaders who discussed international and regional issues have at the end of their discussion signed a technical and economic cooperation agreement believed to be the foundation for future agreements to be signed in various sectors.
Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service