Deputy PM, Morocco FM discuss issues of mutual interest

Addis Ababa, May 26, 2021 (FBC) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen discussed with the Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on bilateral issues of mutual interests

The two focused on ways to cement bilateral and multilateral ties between the two countries.

Demeke also gave a briefing on current issues in Ethiopia, in particular the overall situation on the GERD construction and negotiation, the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, and the upcoming general elections.

Ethiopia and Morocco should expedite the implementation of the 12 agreements that were signed between them in various fields following the fruitful visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco in 2016, Demeke said.

He also mentioned the economic significance of expediting the production process of the jointly established fertilizer plant in Ethiopia and connecting Addis Ababa and Rabat with direct flights by Ethiopian Airlines.

The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed his confidence that Morocco would support Dr. Arkebe Oqubay, the sole African candidate for the position of Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

The Moroccan Foreign Minister thanked Mr. Demeke for the briefing and said Morocco supports Ethiopia’s right to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Regarding the GERD and the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, Nasser Bourita expressed his confidence that peaceful resolutions would be reached at the end with amicable solutions to all parties.

The Moroccan Foreign Minister told Demeke that his country would support Arkebe Oqubay’s candidacy for the UNIDO and stressed the need to create economic linkages between the two countries by encouraging connections of private businesses and flights by the major Airlines of the two countries.

The two sides also discussed commitments to build green economies noting the need to further strengthen the partnership between Ethiopia and Morocco in the field of renewable energy.

It is recalled that in a bid to increase access to electricity, the two countries formed the Coalition for sustainable Energy Access at the UN Climate action summit in September 2019 in New York.