RUSSIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER WILL VISIT ETHIOPIA IN MID SEPTEMBER

Addis Ababa (ENA + DIPLOMAT)- Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expected visit to Ethiopia in mid September will have a crucial importance to further strengthen the two country’s multifaceted relations, Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia Vsevolod Tkachenko said.

This would be the second for Lavrov to visit Ethiopia,however he visited Addis Ababa in the first time in 2006.

Ambassador Tkachenko stated Lavrov’s visit would transform the two countries bilateral relations to a better stage.
The visit is aimed to strengthen the economic, political and social cooperation between the two countries, the Ambassador said.

“The visit aimed at strengthening our political cooperation and interaction and various bilateral areas .We are planning to discuss the full agenda of our bilateral relations and our cooperation on the international arena, of course we will discuss issues of economic cooperation in general and prospects of new bilateral agreements which will facilitate our cooperation in various fields.”
During his visit to Ethiopia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to confer with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Despite the Russia’s age-old relations with Africa, noted the ambassador that the tie with the continent has not been strengthened as desired.

Russia is keen to boost ties with Africa and will work to this end, the Ambassador added.

The bilateral relation between Ethiopia and Russia and their areas of cooperation are strengthening from time to time, according to the ambassador.

“Recently we had a very successful meeting of our joint intergovernmental commissions in Moscow, it was June and our experts, representatives’ of relevant authorities, ministries, discussed almost all aspects of our economic cooperation in energy, geology, industrial projects, oil and gas, infrastructure, railway and direct air flights.”

Russia wants to re-establish the direct flight from Addis Ababa to Moscow, halted in 1991, he added, preparations have been undertaken for the commencement of the direct flight.

The direct flight would bolster economic and people-topeople relation between the two countries.
Russia is committed to support Ethiopia’s efforts being exerted in human resource development.

Source: diplomat.so/