Ireland To Raise Its Development Assistance: Irish Premier

Addis Ababa, Feb. 7 (ENA)--Irish Prime Minister said his country would increase the amount of assistance it is extending to Ethiopia in the years ahead.

During talks held with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Ahen Bertie said "We work with you at EU and UN level. Ireland is committed to work with you (Ethiopia)".

He said his country would also further strengthen its historical partnership with Ethiopia by raising its assistance geared at alleviating poverty in the country.

The Ethiopian delegation led by Prime Minister Meles arrived in Dublin, Ireland on Wednesday on a working visit after concluding its working visit to Germany.

Meles and his entourage were accorded a warm wel-come on their arrival at Dublin Airport by the Irish Member of Parliament and Defense Minister, Michael Smith. It is for the first time for an Ethiopian leader to visit Ireland.

Ireland has raised its development assistance to the world’s heavily indebted poor countries from 0.5 per cent to 0.7 per cent of its Gross National Product since 2000, Bertie said.

Meles said on his part that Irish’s economic assistance to Ethiopia has been helpful in the efforts underway to fight the tide of deepening poverty.

He said his country has a strong desire to work in close partnership with Ireland.

Prime Minister Meles was also accorded a warm wel-come by the Irish Foreign Minister in the presence of the Ethiopian community in Dublin.

The foreign minister, Brain Cowen said on the occasion that the Ethio-Ireland friendly relations dates back to early 20th century when his country had established its own government.

Cowen said Ireland had showed its solidarity with Ethiopia when Italy invaded the country in 1933 by imposing economic sanction on the invader.

He also recalled that his country had also lent its hand to Ethiopia when it was hit by famine in 1984/85.

The foreign minister said, "…We admire the efforts made to bring about the end of a long and difficult period of totalitarianism in Ethiopia and to place your country firmly on a path to democracy."

Meles will visit the Chester Beaty library in Dublin, where several Ethiopian scrolls are found.

The Ethiopian Delegation is expected to leave Dublin for Paris on Thursday concluding its two-day working visit to Ireland.

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