Ethiopia, Kenya sign military cooperation agreement
ADDIS ABABA, Mar 13, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The leaders of Ethiopia and Kenya have reiterated that their countries were determined to consolidate their relations. They have also signed a military cooperation agreement. President Mwai Kibaki has returned to his country at the end of a working visit to Ethiopia.
President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya concluded his four-day working visit to Ethiopia on Saturday Mrach 12, 2005, the Ethiopian radio reported.
The two leaders said the cooperation between Ethiopia and Kenya was satisfactory and that they were ready to upgrade it to a higher level in the interest of the peoples of the two countries. Noting that they had evaluated the performance of the two countries’ joint consultative ministerial committees and border administrators’ committees, they said the regular meetings between the committees were useful.
The two countries also signed a military cooperation agreement to beef up security and the fight against terrorism. Ethiopian Defence Minister Abadula Gemeda and Kenyan Foreign Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries.
According to the joint statement, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and President Kibaki have pledged to play a vital role towards development of the two countries. They called for the consolidation of economic cooperation between their countries and promised to create conducive atmosphere to that effect. The two leaders agreed to revitalize cooperation in the field of telecommunications.
Prime Minister Meles said efforts by the Kenyan government to prioritize the rehabilitation of the Moyale road was acceptable. The two leaders also discussed possibilities to build a railway between the two countries and have instructed the relevant bodies to discuss the issue.
The joint statement said Prime Minister Meles also briefed President Kibaki on the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process and the five-point peace plan proposed by Ethiopia to resolve the border impasse. President Kibaki said he appreciated the briefing and Ethiopia’s efforts to peacefully resolve the problem.
Prime Minister Meles hailed Kenya’s role as a chair in the Sudan peace process under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, IGAD. The two leaders reiterated that the comprehensive Sudanese peace agreement should be given special attention to ensure the prevalence of peace and stability in southern Sudan, and have called on the international community to provide support towards the reconstruction of Sudan.
Regarding Somalia, Prime Minister Meles praised efforts by IGAD, particularly Kenya for the success of the Somali peace process. He and President Kibaki promised support for the newly-established Somali Transitional Federal Government (STFG) in its efforts to set up a government and restore law and order. They said they had held discussions with the prime ministers of Djibouti and the STFG on the relocation of the STFG to the country.
President Kibaki has invited Prime Minister Meles to visit Kenya. He also planted trees on Kenya Road in Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian News Agency reported that on departure from the Bole International Airport today, President Kibaki and his wife Mrs Kibaki were seen off by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his wife Ms Azeb Mesfin, senior government officials and ambassadors.
Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.