ADDIS ABABA (Halbeeg News) – Leaders of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea on Saturday agreed to step up efforts to establish regional peace and cooperation.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki met in Ethiopia’s Amhara Regional State to cement their relations.
In a communique issued on Saturday, the three leaders agreed to consolidate their mutual solidarity and support in addressing the challenges facing the countries.
The leaders stressed the importance of respecting the solidarity and integrity of Somalia.
“In this regard, the leader stressed the importance of respecting the solidarity, integrity and political independence of Somalia as well as their firm support for the Somali people, the federal government of Somalia and all its institutions,” the communique issued in Bahr Dar town reads.
According to a twitter post from the office of Ethiopian PM, the next tripartite meeting between the leaders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea will be held in Mogadishu. The date of the meeting was not announced.
The leaders welcomed the impeding lifting of all sanctions against Eritrea, underscoring their conviction that this act of justice would contribute to enhancing peace, development, and cooperation in the region.
Relations among the three neighboring nations had been tense until recently — a fast-paced diplomatic thaw changed it all after Eritrea accepted Ethiopia’s olive branch in June.
According to the Declaration on Comprehensive Cooperation the three countries signed in September, the leaders are committed to foster comprehensive cooperation that benefits their peoples.
“The three countries shall build close political, economic, social, cultural and security ties, [and they] shall work in coordination to promote regional peace and security,” the declaration reads.
They also established a Joint High-Level Committee to coordinate their efforts in the framework of the joint declaration.
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