The first high-level Eritrean delegation to visit Ethiopia in decades has arrived for a meeting which could ease military tension. Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed has received the Eritrean delegation that includes Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Adviser Yemane Ghebreab, who arrived in Addis Ababa on Tuesday 26 June.
Diplomatic ties have been cut between the two countries for almost 20 years.
A red carpet was rolled out, and the visitors were offered garlands of flowers. Olympic athletes, Ethiopian elders, religious figures, actors, singers and traditional dancers were all part of the welcoming committee. In the streets of the capital, a poster showing both flags together with a message of welcome hung from buildings.
Writing on Twitter, PM Abiy’s chief of staff said the prime minister “hopes the visit will lay the foundation for a much brighter future for Ethiopia [and] Eritrea”.
In a highly symbolic move, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopian Airlines would restart flights to Eritrea for the first time since 1998 when conflict erupted between the two nations.
