Ethiopia: Russian Relations Have Good Prospects - Ambassador

The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)NEWS24 February 2008 Posted to the web 26 February 2008 Addis Ababa
There is a very good prospect for bilateral relations between Russia and Ethiopia as they mark the l10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between the two countries, Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia Mikhail Afanasiev said.
The month of February is the remarkable month for the cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia as it highlights the starting point since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two Countries as far back as 110 years now.
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The date itself arouses respect and the history of bilateral ties produces evidence for that.
Ethiopia and Russia established their diplomatic relations in February 1898, when the then head of the Russian Extraordinary diplomatic mission P.Vlasov presented his credentials to the Emperor of Ethiopia, Menelik II, the ambassador said.
Asked about the recent relation between the two countries in social, economic and political issues, he Russia and Ethiopia were now enjoying a very good relations which he said was based on a solid historical foundation.
"I can boldly assert that the relations between Russia and Ethiopia are very good. The relations are based on a solid historical foundation," the ambassador said in an interview with he held in connection to the 110th anniversary of the diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.
The guiding principles of the modern Ethio-Russian cooperation are enshrined in the Declaration on principles of friendly relations and partnership between the Russian Federation and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which was signed in 2001 during the official visit of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to Moscow, the Russian ambassador added.
"This document is future oriented and will by further enriched in the course of its realization," the ambassador observed.