ASMARA (Halbeeg)- Ethiopia and its neighbouring erstwhile enemy Eritrea agreed to set up embassies in their respective capitals following the historic summit in Asmara.
The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Dr. Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afwerki made the announcement on Sunday during a landmark meeting in the Eritrean capital Asmara.
“We have agreed to open up embassies in our respective countries, allow our people to visit each other’s cities,” Abiy said. “Love is greater than modern weapons like tanks and missiles. Love can win hearts, and we have seen a great deal of it today here in Asmara.”
The meeting was the first of its kind between leaders of the two Horn of Africa neighbours in almost 20 years.
The rapprochement between the two neighbors could have far-reaching consequences for improving the stability of the Horn of Africa, which is home to several conflicts and environmental crises.
On his part, Asaias commended Abiy’s move to break the deadlock between the two countries saying it opened doors for the people of the two brotherly nations.
“The Eritrean people have today got the chance to express their true love and emotion for Ethiopians,” Isaias said.
“We can imagine that the decision the prime minister of Ethiopia took was not a simple one. But we can assure you we will face the future together. We will work as one.”
Related Content
Eritrean Port
Prime Minister Abiy also announced that his landlocked nation would begin using a port in Eritrea.
“Ethiopia will resume using Eritrea’s port,” Abiy said.
The two countries will also resume flights between each other, as well as direct phone connections.
“We agreed that the airlines will start operating, the ports will be accessible, people can move between the two countries and the embassies will be opened,” Abiy affirmed. “We will demolish the wall and, with love, build a bridge between the two countries.”
Eritrea achieved independence from Ethiopia amicably in 1993 but the two countries swiftly became bitter enemies.
Their relations became severed following a border dispute which killed tens of thousands of people in the late 1990s.
Discussion about this post