South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, told reporters that Ethiopia and South Africa would sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enable Ethiopia toSouth African Minister of Defense, Dr. Lindiwe Sisulu and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi  talk on military cooperation provide air force training for South Africa.

The South African Minister made the remark after she met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa last Monday.

The news was reported by the Ethiopian television and A Week in the Horn, the weekly press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ethiopian Television reported:

PM Meles holds talks with a South African Defense Minister

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks on Monday with a South African government delegation headed by the country’s Minister of Defense and Military Veterans, Dr. Lindiwe Sisulu.

On the occasion, the two sides discussed ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation particularly in the areas of trade, agricultural extension and human resource development.

Dr. Sisulu told reporters after the meeting that Ethiopia and South Africa would sign a Memorandum of Understanding enabling the former to provide air force training for the latter. Ethiopian television and Radio Agency – December, 19, 2011

A Week in the Horn reported

South Africa’s Defence Minister visits Ethiopia

On Monday, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi met with visiting South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Dr. Lindiwe Sisulu. The two discussed ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation particularly in the areas of trade, agricultural extension and human resource development, and emphasized the mutual benefit of cooperation and the value of working together and sharing experiences. During the discussion, Dr. Sisulu noted that Ethiopia had rich experience in the fields of agricultural extension and human resource development. She expressed South Africa’s keenness to work in collaboration. She told reporters after the meeting that Ethiopia and South Africa would sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enable Ethiopia to provide air force training for South Africa and exchange best experiences in this area. Prime Minister Meles expressed Ethiopia’s readiness to assist and added that Ethiopia was committed to do its part in organizing a joint committee to undertake organization of the air force training programs and facilitating exchanges between Ethiopia and South Africa. A Week in the Horn – Dec. 23, 2011

The Ethiopian Air force trains both Ethiopian and non Ethiopian pilots of jets, helicopters and passenger aircrafts. Unofficial reports indicated in mid-July the Air force promised to sell unspecified numbers of used helicopters to the South Sudan at six million USD apiece including the training of pilots.

The Ethiopian Air force is said to have been engaged in the procurement aircraft and aviation technologies in the year 2001.

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