PRESS RELEASE
Opening Remarks
By
H.E. Ato Hailemariam Desalegn,
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
At the meeting to establish the Ethio-Uganda
Joint Ministerial Commission
22 July 2011
Kampala, Uganda
Your Excellency,
Distinguished Members of the Ugandan Delegation, Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me first to express my thanks and appreciation to the people and the government of Uganda for the very warm welcome we have received since our arrival here in Kampala. It is a clear reflection of the existing brotherhood and friendship that exists between our nations. I do not need to remind you that Ethiopia and Uganda have enjoyed a long standing relationship over many years, a relationship based on mutual trust and confidence. It is my very real hope that our presence here today will revitalize our long-standing relationship, and provide us all with the opportunity to further enhance the historic relations between our peoples.
In the past, the bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Uganda created excellent opportunities for us to embark on Corporation in a number of different areas, through the General cooperation Agreement in 1993 or the more recent Bilateral Air Service Agreement.
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We can all agree that Ethiopia and Uganda have had considerable opportunities to work together in Economic, Social, Cultural and Political issues. The close working relationship of our leaders has provided an additional basis for considering further enhancement of our existing relationship. That, however, requires something more – the establishment of a strategic partnership between Ethiopia and Uganda.
I believe there is a need to create such a framework to further develop our cooperation and our friendship. Today’s meeting is a reflection of these realities. Certainly, we know that our two countries have excellent relations but there is always room for expansion. Indeed, our leaders have underlined the importance of further strengthening our relations and our co-operation by taking the initiative to meet whenever opportunities have been available. That is something that can usefully guide our own deliberations.
Your Excellency,
The current regional and global situation underlines the necessity for countries, more than ever before, to try to harmonize their efforts and enhance their cooperation. This is needed to reduce our marginalization from global realities and promote our mutual benefits. There is an imperative for African countries to redouble their efforts to promote cooperation among themselves. Ethiopia and Uganda are both members of the African Union and we both play a critical role in IGAD. I can say that we both have a responsibility to make the African Union and IGAD strong bodies to help fulfill the aspirations of the peoples of Africa and of our region. This underlines the importance of holding frequent consultations to coordinate our positions on issues of mutual interest at international, continental and regional levels.
Your Excellency
Uganda and Ethiopia have constantly worked together to address the problems faced by the people of Somalia. We cooperated closely to achieve the formation of the Somali Transitional Federal Government. While Ethiopian troops were in Somalia, and subsequently, we worked together in trying to push the Somalia peacemaking effort forward. This cooperation was extended at all levels within the regional, continental and international organizations of IGAD, the AU and the UN. We have made considerable progress, but nevertheless, the challenge Somalia poses for our region, and the continent at large, remains centered on the activities of Al-Shabaab, supported as it is by various actors both in the region and beyond. We need to continue, and indeed, to expand our joint activities. The situation in Somalia still requires serious and close attention. Somalia, indeed, would certainly be one of the issues that a strategic partnership would deal with.
Similarly, I can state with confidence that our common endeavors will be of importance in helping to realize peace and security for the new state in our region, the Republic of South Sudan. Ensuring the viability and freedom of South Sudan calls for economic, political and security for South Sudan is critical to Ethiopia, to Uganda and to the region at large. Any setback to its stability, its peace and security, will have a real impact on the regional peace and stability. In this context there can again be no doubt of the value of close cooperation and of a consultative partnership between Uganda and Ethiopia.
The Nile Basin Initiative recently culminated in the signing of the Cooperative Framework Agreement. This needs to be further developed and enhanced. We should make a concerted effort to get the remaining Nile riparian states to sign the agreement, and encourage those who have already signed to ratify the agreement through their respective legislative bodies. This is something I suspect between our two countries.
There are other areas in which we can usefully continue to support and coordinate our activities on a regular basis. I can confidently state that we share a common understanding of such issues of terrorism and piracy, exacerbated as they are by a lawless and stateless Somalia, and by the activities of countries that are not prepared to abide by the laws governing normal inter-state relationships. I am of course, referring to Eritrea in particular.
Indeed, it is my strong conviction that this meeting will further enhance our shared vision of mutual security for our region, a vision that is predicted upon providing development and cooperation in all fields of mutual benefit like the fight against global enemy, by way of coordinating our legal and judiciary organs.
Your Excellencies,
Significantly increased cooperation should not, of course, be confined to political and security issues. It can certainly be carried out in economic development, particularly in such areas as agriculture, health, education, investment, culture and tourism as well as training or experience – sharing in gender issues. We certainly haven’t fully explored the potential opportunities available for such developments. Nor, I have to say, have we always managed to explain our aims and intentions satisfactorily. We need to redouble our efforts. Economic development isn’t achievable in isolation. If we use our resources and our capacities jointly and effectively, I would be very confident that we can create a strong basis for extensive, mutual economic development that will really benefit future generations.
Your Excellency,
Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I believe the conducive atmosphere and the exemplary relations that already prevail between our two countries will help us explore new avenues of cooperation. They will allow us to expedite development in both our countries, and provide for the real possibility of significant economic integration.
Allow me, Your Excellency and dear brother, to thank you again for the magnificent hospitality you have given us, and for the excellent preparations for this meeting.
I thank you
