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Addis Ababa (AFP) – Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki pledged to resolve his country's dispute with Ethiopia on a visit to Addis Ababa
Isaias arrived in the Ethiopian capital just five days after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Eritrea as part of a dizzying peace process aimed at ending years of violence and animosity between neighbors who were once part of the same nation. [19659003] Abiy and Isaias shared laughs and hugs at an official lunch on Saturday as the Ethiopian leader said his counterpart was "beloved, respected and missed by the Ethiopian people."
"We Are No Longer People of Two Countries. , "Isaias told political and cultural elites gathered in a palace built during Ethiopia's imperial days. "We'll go forward together."
Isaias started his three-day visit at Addis Ababa's airport, where he and Abiy strode down to a red carpet and a brbad band played and traditional dancers cheered.
The leaders then drove EzineArticles – Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles EzineArticles – Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles EzineArticles.com Logo a declaration declaring an official end to the war.
"Welcome home President Isaias !!" Abiy's chief of staff Fitsum Arega wrote on Twitter as the Eritrean leader arrived.
Eritrea was once part of Ethiopia and composed its entire coastline on the Red Sea until it voted for independence in 1993 after decades of bloody conflict.
The move left Ethiopia landlocked, and the deterioration of relations after the outbreak of the war in 1998 forced Addis Ababa to channel its trade through Djibouti
The two countries have shown little signs of rapprochement since the signing of the Algiers peace agreement 2000 after a conflict which left 80,000 people dead before settling into a bitter cold war
– Whirlwind reforms –
Analysts say the surprisingly rapid burying of the hatchet was possible only because of Abiy's rise to the post of prime minister April.
As part of a whirlwind set of reforms, Abiy announced last month that Ethiopia would abide by a 2002 UN-backed ruling and hand back disputed border territory to Eri trea, including the flashpoint town of Badme.
However Ethiopia has not yet announced the pull-out of the troops.
Abiy then paid a historic visit to Eritrea, where the two leaders announced the re-establishment of diplomatic
The emotional reunion between the two countries and the first time of the world.
Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said on Twitter after Isaias arrived.
Ethiopia's state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate said Isaias would stay here Eritrean embbady would be reopened
–
However, Ethiopia has seen double-digit growth in recent years and is seeking wider options for importing and exporting its goods by eyeing ports in Somalia and Eritrea.
Meanwhile Eritrea, one of the world's most isolated nations, has pursued policies that have hamstrung the economy by scaring off investors, indefinite military conscription program
newfound peace should be a catalyst for change in Eritrea, where thousands of people, including rights activists and opposition politicians are "languishing in detention simply for expressing their views."
"The end of hostilities with Ethiopia is a joyous moment for Eritreans , "But it must be followed by tangible reforms that make a real difference in the daily lives of the people and put an end to decades of repression in the country," said Seif Magango, AI's deputy director for the region.
In a Eritrea was the biggest independent journalist on the continent, and it was last indented 17 years ago.
of hundreds of thousands of Eritreans from their country.
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