Ethiopia, Israel Should Redouble Efforts to Further Enhance Cooperation: President Mulatu

Addis Ababa May 03/2018 Ethiopia and Israel should redouble their efforts to further enhance their engagement in various areas of cooperation, President Mulatu Teshome said. In his remark at the state banquet in honor of Israeli President Reuven Rivilin yesterday, President Mulatu said the long standing relations between Ethiopia and Israel date back to ancient times, and is deeply rooted in history. He pointed out that the recent exchange of visits made by heads of governments of both countries has inspired to do more to enhance the existing partnership. “We should redouble our efforts to further enhance our engagement in trade, investment, tourism and people to people interaction with a view to deepening and solidifying our friendly relations and mutual cooperation,” President Mulatu added. Mentioning that trade volume has reached 116 million USD, 104 Israeli related investment projects, of which 55 are at operation and other 45 at implementation, President  Mulatu  said “our bilateral relations and cooperation have come a long way from where it was decades ago.” “The partnership and cooperation between Ethiopia and Israel is not limited to the bilateral arena. As the two countries are located in volatile regions which are marred by protracted wars and instability, Ethiopia and Israel ought to cooperate in a wide range of issues,” he emphasized. "Therefore, we believe that we have to boost up our security cooperation in general and in fighting terrorism and extremism in particular," he noted and assured his country's readiness to further strengthen its bilateral cooperation with the state of Israel. Israeli President Reuven Rivilin said on his part “We do not only share the great history with you but that same spirit.” Mentioning that Ethiopia has maintained its freedom for four thousand years, the President noted “the struggle for freedom, the courage, and the determination unites our both nations.” “Israel together with the Jewish people is the true partner and friend of Ethiopia by all means. From the bottom of my heart, I am saying these words; we are really partners and friends.” According to the President, Israel has become expert in creating solutions in health, water, agriculture, energy, cyber and more as it needed them to survive. “We want to do more together through government to government cooperation, public, private and civil society collaboration,” he added. President Reuven Rivlin’s three-day official visit to Ethiopia, which is also the first-ever state visit by an Israeli President, is aimed at strengthening the two countries relationship.