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Russia & Ethiopia Set to Closely Align Approaches in UN and BRICS, Moscow Says

© Photo Twitter / @MID_RFFlags of Russia and Ethiopia
Flags of Russia and Ethiopia - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 03.02.2024
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In August, the BRICS summit in Johannesburg opened the door for Ethiopia, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia to join the bloc. Full membership for the countries took effect on January 1, 2024.
Russia's Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga reaffirmed their commitment to deepening political dialogue and close coordination of approaches in the UN and BRICS, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on the outcome of the ministerial consultations.

"A number of issues of further development of mutually beneficial Russian-Ethiopian cooperation were discussed in detail, focusing on the expansion of trade and economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian ties. Moscow and Addis Ababa confirmed their mutual intention to deepen the political dialogue and close coordination of approaches in the UN and BRICS, including with a view to the Russian presidency of the association in 2024," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry added that the confidential exchange of views on the current regional agenda focused on the situation in the Horn of Africa. During the consultations, Moscow stressed the need to overcome the existing differences between the countries of the region "in the spirit of good-neighborliness" in full compliance with the norms of international law and touched upon the issues of overcoming the clashes in Sudan, as well as in the Red Sea region.
"The search for a national consensus in Sudan in the interests of ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country was also recognized as an irrevocable option," the foreign ministry added. "Considering the situation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Red Sea region, the task of an early cessation of bloodshed in the Gaza Strip and the normalization of the situation in Yemen and its surroundings was emphasized."
Ethiopia has also held talks with Russia on setting up its own fertilizer production with Moscow's assistance to achieve food self-sufficiency, the Ethiopian news agency ETA reported.
The issues were discussed at a meeting in Addis Ababa between Ethiopia's Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Girma Amente, and Russia's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Mikhail Yurin, the agency added.
"The dialogue follows talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed six months ago during the Russia-Africa summit. At the talks, the [Russian] delegation spoke about Russia's ability to supply fertilizer to Ethiopia, as well as the prospects for establishing fertilizer production in the country," the report said.
ETA added that Girma Amente stressed Ethiopia's determination to meet the fertilizer needs of farmers and noted the favorable opportunities for fertilizer production in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia, the agency pointed out, noted Addis Ababa's desire to take advantage of Russia's rich experience and technical support to mechanize agriculture and set up its own fertilizer production.
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands before an official ceremony to welcome the leaders of delegations to the Russia Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, July 27, 2023. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 24.12.2023
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The minister praised the cooperation with Russia in the sector and ordered the formation of a working group to address the issue of supplying Russian fertilizers and establishing Ethiopia's own fertilizer production with the help of Russia, the media summed up.
In late December 2023, the Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Russian-Ethiopian Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Trade Cooperation met in Addis Ababa.
Dr. Belete Molla, Ethiopia's Minister of Innovation and Technology, told Sputnik Africa that the meeting was a "positive step" in strengthening cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia in the economic and technological spheres.
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