On April 3, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, within the framework of his official visit to Addis-Ababa, had a meeting with Sahle-Work Zewde, the President of Ethiopia.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan congratulated Sahle-Work Zewde on her appointment as the President of the Ethiopian Democratic Federative Republic, wishing all success in that important mission. Foreign Minister of Armenia also congratulated Ethiopia upon the successful membership in the UN Security Council.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the prospects of deepening and enriching the Armenian-Ethiopian bilateral agenda. In that regard both sides highlighted the initiation of joint programs aimed at boosting cooperation on information technologies and digital agenda.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia underscored that expanding relations with the African continent, including Ethiopia, is one of the priorities of the foreign policy of Armenia and confirmed that the Armenian side is ready to take practical steps to fully utilize the existing potential. In this context the sides emphasized the importance of expanding the legal framework.

The President of Ethiopia and the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia particularly underscored the role of the small but active Armenian community in the social and political life of Ethiopia as a solid bridge between the two friendly countries.

Minister Mnatsakanyan briefed his interlocutor on the domestic political developments in Armenia, the government’s broad agenda of reforms, in the heart of which is the promotion of innovation and technology-driven economy.

Minister Mnatsakanyan highlighted the importance of wider engagement of women in the social and political life of Armenia and Ethiopia, noting with satisfaction that the Government of Armenia approved the 2019-2021 National Action Program on the implementation of the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, on women, peace, and security.

At the request of the President of Ethiopia, the Armenian Foreign Minister  presented the recent developments around the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. The interlocutors agreed that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

President Sahle-Work Zewde and Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also exchanged views on a number of urgent issues of the international agenda.