Ethiopia, Turkey Vow to Strengthen Global Diplomatic Cooperation

Addis Ababa January 1/2025 (ENA)—Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia, Berk Baran, said that Turkey will strengthen its historic friendship with Ethiopia in to global diplomatic cooperation.

At the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs of the House of People's Representatives, the Ethio-Turkey Friendship Group held discussions on various areas of diplomatic cooperation aimed at fostering development and peace between the two nations.

Ambassador Berk Baran elaborated on the discussions, emphasizing that the long-standing friendship between Ethiopia and Turkey is rooted in universal diplomatic fields.

He specifically pointed to the importance of collaboration in trade and investment, technology transfer, health, culture, and public-to-public relations as foundational pillars of their cooperation.

The Ambassador also highlighted the ongoing efforts to maximize mutual benefits by strengthening the multifaceted diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.

"The relationship between the people of both nations is centuries old, and their diplomatic ties have enabled them to expand cooperation across a wide range of fields," said Baran. "The bond between the two nations is grounded in investment, economy, trade, culture, science, sports, and other sectors."

He also noted that the agreement reached between Ethiopia and Somalia under Turkey's mediation is of significant importance for regional peace and stability in East Africa.

Baran praised the Ethio-Somalia agreement as an example of how peaceful dialogue can address regional issues and elevate cooperation to a new level.

"Turkey takes pride in the role Ankara played in facilitating the peaceful resolution of the dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia,” he said, adding that “The Ankara agreement not only ensures peace and stability in the region but also demonstrates that any challenges can be resolved through diplomatic agreements, with all parties showing their commitment to the task".

Fathi Mahdi, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee of the House, on his part emphasized that the diplomatic bond between Ethiopia and Turkey is built on strong people-to-people relations.

He noted that the discussion hosted by the Ethio-Turkey Friendship Group focused on reinforcing the two countries' relationship while addressing regional peace and security concerns.

He also expressed gratitude toward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his positive role in the Ethio-Somalia agreement process.

In the realm of parliamentary diplomacy, the participants reiterated the historical friendship between Ethiopia and Turkey, highlighting the importance of continued diplomatic cooperation in areas such as cultural exchange, trade, investment, and people-to-people relations.

The discussion concluded with a reaffirmation of the commitment to further strengthen the implementation of the Ethio-Somalia agreement.