1. The Fifth Ethio-Egyptian Joint Ministerial Commission meeting was held from 1-3 November, 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Ministerial Meeting was preceded by the Senior Officials and Experts’ meeting which was convened from 1-2 November 2010.
2. The Ethiopian delegation was led by H.E. Dr. Tewdros Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, while the Egyptian delegation was led by H.E. Mr. Sameh Shoukry, Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
3. The meeting was attended from the Ethiopian side by the Minster of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Trade, Minster of Education, State Minister of Industry, State Minster of Health, and Director General for Investment Commission. From the Egyptian side by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Higher Education and Minister of Health.
4. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the meetings that have been held at the summit level in both Malabo and New York, and reaffirmed their commitment to the joint statement issued in Malabo in this regard as a momentum for their future cooperation.
5. The two sides exchanged views on current regional political and security issues, including the situation in Somalia, South Sudan, Libya, Burkina Faso, and the Palestinian issue. And both sides agreed that all issues should be resolved through peaceful means.
6. With regard to South Sudan, they reaffirmed the importance of resolving the problem between the two parties in conflict through peaceful means and appreciated the role of IGAD and AU.
7. On the situation in the Sudan, both countries supported Comprehensive National Dialogue.
8. On the Palestinian issue both countries reaffirmed their position calling for a just and lasting peace based on the two state solution; and the UN resolution.
9. On Libya, both countries expressed their keenness to achieve stability, unity and preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty of Libya. In this context, they welcomed the neighboring countries’ initiative.
10. On Burkina Faso, both sides exchanged their views on the situation in Burkina Faso and called for peaceful resolution of the situation in the country and regain its stability.
11. On terrorism, both countries condemned all acts of terror and agreed to enhance their efforts to combat terrorism, organized crimes and control human trafficking.
12. Both sides stressed the importance of adopting a comprehensive vision and approach to deal with the Ebola epidemic and to collaborate with the regional and international efforts to deal with this grave and serious challenge facing the entire continent. Both sides, highlighted their contribution in the fight against Ebola; and raising the capacity of the continent in this regard
13. The two sides agreed, after holding extensive discussions on the existing areas of cooperation, to implement agreements that have not yet been implemented and explore new areas where they can establish mutual beneficial cooperation. In addition to the existing areas of cooperation in investment, avoidance of double taxation agriculture, health, Higher education, media and communication, they agreed to expand their cooperation in new fields such as industrial sector, mining, trade, women affairs, general education and vocational and technical training, and diplomatic training.
14. They signed Cooperation Agreement on General Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training and on Trade, and Memoranda of Understanding in Health, Women Affairs, and Diplomatic Training.
15. The Joint Business Forum which brought about 100 renowned business people from both sides was held on 2 November 2014, alongside the Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting. The two sides appreciated the holding of the Joint Business Forum and stressed the importance of encouraging the volume and the diversity of trade and investment. They also stressed the importance of frequent contacts between their respective business communities.
16. The two sides also signed the Agreed Minutes of the meeting.
17. The meeting was held in cordial atmosphere which reflects the excellent relations that exists between the two countries.
18. The Egyptian delegation expressed its gratitude to the Government and people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the warm hospitality accorded to it and expressed appreciation for the excellent preparations for the meeting.
19. The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and decided to hold the sixth meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission in 2016, in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
03 November 2014
Addis Ababa
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