Addis Ababa, June 9, 2018 (FBC) –Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has begun his two-day state visit to Egypt.

The Prime Minister and his high-level delegation will meet President Abdel Fattah El- Sisi.
A high level bilateral discussion led by the two leaders will be held to discuss over issues of mutual interest.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy arrived in Cairo after concluding his two-day visit to Uganda.
He conferred with President Museveni on strengthening issues of mutual interest between the two countries, including trade and political ties.
They agreed to concretize cooperation in priority sectors energy, trade, agriculture, transport, tourism and culture.
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 9, 2018 (FBC) - The Taliban have announced a three-day ceasefire with Afghan government forces coinciding with Eid later this month, days after a unilateral ceasefire was ordered by the government.

It is the Taliban's first ceasefire since the government they ran was toppled by the 2001 US-led invasion.
The Taliban said it would stop all offensive operations during the holiday, except against foreign forces.
Earlier, Taliban fighters killed dozens of Afghan security force members.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban move was an opportunity for the militants to realise "their violent campaign" was "not winning them hearts and minds but further alienating the Afghan people from their cause".
Government forces will not stop fighting other militants operating in Afghanistan, like the Islamic State (IS) group, during the ceasefire.
Previous offers of peace talks and ceasefires with the Taliban have come to nothing, BBC reports.
Posted by Amare Asrat
 

Addis Ababa, June 9, 2018 (FBC) - Talks at the G7 summit in Canada have failed to resolve deep differences between US President Donald Trump and leaders of major industrial nations.

The divisions were laid bare on Friday, notably over trade.
Allies of the US are furious over Mr Trump's recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, raising fears of a global trade war.
It is unclear whether a communique agreed by all will be released when the meeting concludes later on Saturday.
According to BBC report, the two-day summit is being held in the town of La Malbaie, in Quebec province.
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 9, 2018 (FBC) – The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) signed contract agreements with 10 contractors for the construction and upgrading of a total of 785.39 km roads at a cost of 13.4 billion birr earmarked by the government.

ERA Director General, Araya Girmay, signed the agreement with the contractors.
The construction of the roads will commence next Ethiopian fiscal year in Amhara, Ethiopian Somali, Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz and SNNP regional states.
The construction of the roads will take 3-4 years for completion.
Five of the contractors are local firms, it was noted.
Translated and posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 9, 2018 (FBC) –President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, today awarded Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed the Pearl of Africa Grand Master Medal.

The award is in recognition for his reconciliatory leadership in achieving peace and stability in Ethiopia and for extending olive branch to Eritrea.
The President awarded the medal to the Ethiopian Premier at Uganda’s national celebrations to mark the 29th Heroes’ Day Anniversary.
Heroes’ Day has been celebrated since 1989 in recognition of Ugandans who had sacrificed their lives in the struggle to achieve national Independence, peace and democracy.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy arrived in Uganda yesterday for a two-day state visit.
He held talks with President Museveni, with a particular focus on strengthening issues of mutual interest between the two countries, including trade and political ties.
The two leaders noted the existing bonds of friendship and cooperation between Ethiopia and Uganda.
They agreed to concretize cooperation in priority sectors energy, trade, agriculture, transport, tourism and culture.
The two leaders also stressed the need to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries by bringing together the respective private sectors to identify opportunities for trade and investment.
They underscored the need to work on road transport linking North-eastern Uganda to Southern Ethiopia, through Northern Kenya.
The leaders also discussed the situation in South Sudan and called upon all parties to the conflict to renounce violence and armed rebellion and redouble efforts to find a peaceful political solution.
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 9, 2018 (FBC) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday awarded his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the first-ever Friendship Medal of China.

The ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Wang Huning and Han Zheng, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended.
Friendship Medals, the highest state honor to foreigners, are presented to foreign friends who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace, Xi said when delivering a speech.
As a leader of major country with global influence, President Putin is "an old friend" and "a good friend" of the Chinese people, Xi said.
Thanks to President Putin, bilateral ties have withstood the test of ever-changing international situation, Xi said, noting the deepened political and strategic mutual trust, great progress in pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and the enhanced friendship between the two peoples.
The China-Russia relations, standing at a high level, have benefited the two peoples and served as a model of harmonious coexistence of major countries and neighboring countries. Such relations have contributed to the building of a new type of international relations and a community with shared future for humanity, Xi said.
Xi said he will work along with Putin to usher in even brighter future to the relations between the two countries.
More than 700 people attended the ceremony.
Source: Xinhua
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 9, 2018 (FBC) –Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen received French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at his office yesterday.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the French Foreign Minister described Ethiopia’s ongoing peace activities and economic reforms as promising.
France will provide the necessary support towards Ethiopia’s efforts to normalize relations with its neighbor Eritrea, he said.
The Foreign Minister further stated that he is happy with Ethiopia’s decision to privatize state-owned enterprises.
“We will make efforts to reinforce the economic and political cooperation between the two countries via providing support for Ethiopia’s ongoing reforms,” he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Demeke for his part briefed the French Foreign Minister about decisions recently taken by the Executive Committee of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
French investment in Ethiopia is increasing from time to time.
About 121 French investment projects were licensed during the past years and 65 of them have started operation, the office said.
Addis Ababa hosted the 5th Ethio-French business forum in mid-March this year.The two countries established diplomatic relation in 1890.
Translated and posted by Amare Asrat