Addis Ababa, July 1, 2021 (FBC) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen held phone conversation with the Foreign Minister of South Korea, Chung Eui-yong on recent developments and bilateral issues.
During the meeting, Demeke appreciated the longstanding relationship between the two countries and called on to further strengthen it.
He also spoke about the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire that the Government of Ethiopia has declared recently and its importance in letting farmers employ the planting season undisturbed by conflict.
He also expressed his hope that the humanitarian operators in the region would exploit the opportunity created for unfettered access to scale-up support to the people in the Region.
Although the ceasefire took many by surprise, the Government of Ethiopia has been deliberating on it for a while, and the decision was made considering the inherent needs of Ethiopians for peace as expressed during the 6th General election.
He finally said the international community, including South Korea, would appreciate the magnanimity of the Ethiopian government in declaring the ceasefire and discourage elements that would try to belittle it at the expense of the wellbeing of the people of Tigray.
The South Korean Foreign Minister, on his part, appreciated Ethiopia’s declaration on the humanitarian ceasefire and congratulated the government and people of Ethiopia for successfully conducting the 6th General election.
He also noted the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries and stressed the need to further cooperate in the international arena too.
He finally invited Ethiopia to participate in the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations (UNPKO) Ministerial conference that South Korea plans to host in December 2021.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced Ethiopia’s acceptance of the invitation and suggested that the two countries hold High-level Joint Ministerial Committee consultations on the margins of the Conference.