The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Marina Sereni, met with the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen for an in-depth exchange of opinions.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sereni acknowledged the significant progress made by Ethiopian Authorities in the conflict in the North of the Country, both politically (including the release of several prisoners) and from a humanitarian standpoint, as well as in National Dialogue initiatives. She expressed the hope that there might be a complete cessation of hostilities to enable the re-establishment of the best possible general conditions for Ethiopian people in all the regions involved in the conflict.
She expressed the strong hope that Ethiopia resolutely continues along the road to pacification, giving full humanitarian access to the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions and accountability in the field of human rights, also promoting forms of complementarity between International and Ethiopian Institutions. Recalling how Ethiopia represents one of Italy’s major beneficiaries of official development assistance in the world, Deputy Foreign Minister Sereni also informed that Rome is ready to do its share in the field of Cooperation, both in terms of Development Cooperation and of humanitarian aid, by continuing ongoing initiatives and providing to promote new ones, in a spirit of true friendship and closeness to the Ethiopian people in this delicate phase.
After expressing his own evaluation of the current situation, Deputy Prime Minister Mekonnen underscored the needs arising from the persisting drought in some Ethiopian Regions and thanked for Italy’s balanced position and continuing business and Development Cooperation activities also in the most difficult moments of the conflict. Lastly, both ministers agreed on the commitment to tangibly enhance the partnership, both at bilateral level and within the framework of international and regional organizations, which is growingly intense at various levels.