Annan says Visit to Ethiopia Fruitful.

Addis Ababa, December 8 (WIC)- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan left Addis Ababa for Asmara today after a three days visit to Ethiopia, which he said was fruitful.

Briefing journalists before his departure this morning, Annan said: "I have had good meetings with Prime Minister Meles and other members of the government. I leave Ethiopia with clear impression that the government and people are committed to peace."

The Secretary General even alluded to Ethiopia's famous "13 months of sunshine" tourism motto, to describe the extent of the success of his visit to the country.

"I remember well this country's famous 13 months of sunshine. The sun seems to have been shinning on us during the important work of the past few days", he said.

While in Addis Ababa, Annan also addressed the African Development Forum-2000, which brought together some 1500 stake holder from across Africa, for a five-days discussion on the emergency situation brought in by HIV/AIDS and to chart out appropriate responses.

The Secretary General meanwhile appealed to the donor community to continue to be generous in helping people affected by drought in the horn of Africa, and in the effort for the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

"Now that the war is over, we should begin the urgent task of reconstruction, and economic as well as social development in both Ethiopia and Eritrea this will require vision and resource. I appeal to the international community to assist and to give generously", he urged.

The Secretary general also expressed gratitude to the generosity of the donor community, whom he said have helped in averting famine in countries in the horn of Africa.

" Since April, we have been making significant efforts to aden the effects of drought in the horn of Africa. The good news is that famine has been averted, and a massive relief effort is underway", Annan said.

Commenting on the state of affairs between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Secretary General described the peace treaty to be signed between the two countries next Tuesday as "a very positive step for both side and for all of Africa".

"It is very encouraging that as we end this year, we are going to have one more peace in Africa", he added.

While in Addis, Annan, who was accompanied with his wife, visited Ethiopian civil society at work by visiting an AIDS Project and the Ethiopian Gemini Trust.