Once Foes, Leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea Meet for Peace Talks

It was a moment few had anticipated.

For the first time since a border war in the 1990s opened a rift between Ethiopia and Eritrea, leaders of the two nations embraced on a tarmac airport on Sunday, hinting at a new era of geopolitics in the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia's prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, was born in 1998. He was greeted in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, by President Isaias Afewerki, who

Hours later, the two leaders said they would "set a tone for rapid positive changes." Sunday afternoon, live telephone lines were restored between the two countries For the first time in two decades.

"History in the making: the pictures say it all," said Eritrea's minister of information, Yemane Gebre Meskel, in a post on Twitter .

. Abiy, 41, Surprisingly, it was reported that Ethiopia would "fully accept and implement" a 2000 peace deal that was supposed to end the border with Eritrea.

More than 80,000 people died in the

In a speech to a delegation of Eritrean diplomats visiting Ethiopia last month between the two countries. The neighbors will be celebrating the Ethiopian New Year together in September, he said, and he said: "This is my message to Ethiopians: Love looks better on you," Mr. Abiy said. "Love is the only way with our Eritrean brothers."

His overtures, and his state visit, were welcomed by residents of Asmara on Sunday. They took to the streets waving palm fronds and the flags of the two nations. Eritrean women posted for the city of main boulevard.

"This is no ordinary visit. This is no ordinary diplomatic relationship. It is an emotional day, "said Mesfin Negash, an Ethiopian human rights badyst in Sweden. "The peace process now belongs to the people. Both leaders can not deny the public pressure. "

Political badysts expect negotiations to include the inauguration of embbadies in both capitals and the resumption of trade between the two countries. Eritrean port, they said.

"I had argued that it would be a good idea to have an Eritrean port. Ethiopia, but now I think we have a solution that benefits both countries, "said Yacob Hailemariam, a lawyer in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Capital.

" Both countries will, of course, pursue their self interest, but this is a promising start, "he said.

The state visit on Sunday is the latest of the changes that the Ethiopian prime minister has started in a series of surprise announcements since April.

amnesty to those charged with treason and other political crimes. The second-most-populous country in Africa, Ethiopia, is one of the most influential countries in the history of the world.

Yet, a peace deal with Eritrea

The "no war, no peace" stalemate between the two countries, coupled with a government crackdown on dissent, has contributed to Eritrea's economic and social isolation. recent decades. It was decided that it would be more effective than any other country in the world.

At the height of Europe's migration crisis, Eritreans were among the largest group landing on Mediterranean shores. The United Nations estimates that nearly 170,000 Eritrean refugees live in Ethiopia.