Deputy PM Says Ethiopia keen to Resume GERD Negotiation Under AU Leadership - ENA English
Deputy PM Says Ethiopia keen to Resume GERD Negotiation Under AU Leadership
March 18/2021 /ENA/ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen told Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia Sami Jamil Abdullahi that Ethiopia is keen to resume the negotiation under the leadership of the new chairperson of AU President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Demeke made the remark during his discussion with the Ambassador at his office on Wednesday.
He also stated that Ethiopia doesn't receive an official request for new modalities for mediation over the GERD.
Demeke stressed that questions over the future course of the negotiations will be solved through the pertinent provisions of the Declaration of Principles (DOP) on GERD.
Speaking about the situation in the Tigray region, he said the government has been busy rebuilding damaged infrastructure, rehabilitating IDPs, and delivering humanitarian assistance to affected people.
Unfettered access was given to the media and humanitarians to operate in the region, the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that the government is investigating human rights violations and is ready to work with the African Union and other relevant bodies for further investigations.
The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Ethiopia is ready to resolve the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute through dialogue with Sudan, once the latter withdraws its forces from Ethiopian territories.
The discussion between the two sides also covered the issue of Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia, where they have underscored the importance of cooperation in repatriating Ethiopian citizens.
They underscored the importance of scaling up the historical ties between the two countries, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.