Ethiopia visit to Egypt boosts bilateral relations
Laaska News Sept. 19,2011
CAIRO, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s visit to Egypt was positive, Mona Omar, Egypt’s assistant foreign minister said on Sunday.
The visit succeeded to clear the uncertainties that clouded the bilateral relations for a long time, official news agency MENA quoted Mona as saying, adding the two countries managed to establish a mechanism for political consultation, aiming to exchange views on international and regional issues.
The two signed a number of cooperation agreements and understanding memos in the fields of health, irrigation and communication, she said, noting the economic issues took a great part of the talks, during which Zenawi had invited Egyptian businessmen to invest in his country.
Relations between Egypt and Ethiopia soured after countries of the Nile basin demanded the revision of colonial-era agreements which allotted bulk of water to Egypt and Sudan, allowing Cairo to veto upstream projects. Egypt has not recognized the revised agreement signed among other basin countries.
“Now it is time for the Nile river to be a good opportunity for economic cooperation rather than a political tool to terrorize people,” said Zenawi.
Xinhua.
Laaska News.
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