Addis Ababa, June 8, 2021 (FBC) – State Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Redwan Hussein has conferred with the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo on bilateral issues and regional current affairs.
The State Minister briefed Ambassador Raychelle Omamo on the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, trilateral negotiation on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and latest developments in Tigray regional state.
He also told the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs that Ethiopia has established independent election board in a bid to make the upcoming election free, fair and credible. Ambassador Redwan also explained that 80 percent of eligible citizens have registered to vot.
Ambassador Redwan said that 50 registered competing political parties will participate in the upcoming election as several international organizations have been given accreditation to observe the polling process.
Ethiopia believes that its border issue with the Sudan can be resolved peacefully through engagement of the joint border committee of the two countries.
The current AU led negotiation on the GERD issues is incommensurate with amicable approach of Ethiopia on utilization of the Nile River, he said adding that the nation is keen to reach an agreement with Egypt and Sudan the filling of the dam. The filling of GERD is a part of the Cooperative Framework Agreement signed between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt in Khartoum in 2015, he explained.
Federal government is aggressively working to fully address the humanitarian need in Tigray and is pressing charges against those who are suspected over alleged human rights abuses in the region, he said, adding the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission in working jointly with the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights in investigating in human rights abuses and alleged sexual assaults.
Ethiopia and Kenya share not only border, he said, adding that the two countries have been enjoying deep-seated and longstanding peaceful relationships for centuries calling for effective implementation of agreements signed between them.
Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, expressing gratitude for the explanation, stressed Kenya supports the principle of “African Solutions to African Problems”
She stressed need to signing of MoU to establish joint council of Kenyan and Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and facilitation of regular trade and investment forums among the two countries.
Ambassador Raychelle Omamo also stressed need to operationalization of the Ethiopia-Kenya One Stop Border Post to accelerate trade exchange between the two nations.