President Putin says Ethiopia is Russia’s longstanding, reliable partner in Africa

Addis Ababa, December 5, 2023 (FBC) – The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is Russia’s long-standing and reliable partner in Africa, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

The Ethiopia-Russia comprehensive relation is further deepened by Ethiopia’s entry to the BRICS+ bloc, the President stated.

President Putin made the statement while receiving the letter of credence from Ethiopia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation, Cham Ugala Uriat, on Monday 4 December 2023.

In his welcoming message at a ceremony held at Kremlin, President Putin mentioned that Ethiopia and Russia are friendly countries with 125 years of strong diplomatic relations. “This year, we marked the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations.”

The President also recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) during the second Russia-Africa Summit in July 2023 in St. Petersburg. “Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s official visit to Russia in July was quite useful and productive.”

He underscored that the various cooperation agreements signed during the Summit between the two countries further strengthened the long-established bilateral relations to a higher level. “An array of intergovernmental and trade agreements in transport and logistics, telecommunications, as well as in the sphere of peaceful atom were concluded during this visit. Once implemented, these agreements will undoubtedly help diversify Russian-Ethiopian cooperation.”

Ethiopia’s entry to the BRICS+ family will further cement the two friendly countries’ relations, the President underscored. “Russia supported Ethiopia’s application to join BRICS from the time it was submitted. We will facilitate the effective integration of our Ethiopian partners into all interaction mechanisms within the association during our chairmanship in 2024,” he added.