Rwandan and Ethiopian Experts meet for the 1st JPC
The delegation of experts from Rwanda and Ethiopia met for the 1st session of Joint Permanent Commission from 27th to 28th June, 2012.
During their meeting they drafted various agreement on general cooperation agreement, Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, the Establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission as well as Draft MoUs on defense and military , police cooperation, correctional /prisons services, immigration, infrastructure, water and energy, aviation authorities, water and energy, agriculture, natural resources and environment, education, health, gender, youth, ICT, sports and culture, to be adopted and signed during the ministerial meeting.
The two delegations were led by The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mary BAINE on Rwandan side and the Director-General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Mr. Wondimu Asamnew.
On her remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mary BAINE, stated that although, this was the first session of a Joint Permanent Commission between the two countries; Rwanda and Ethiopia share historical relations of cooperation and that it was a pleasure to start this cooperation formally.
This first session of the Joint Permanent Commission between our two countries is there for a formalization of what has really existed on and on. However it was important for us to formalize this in a more structured and consistent framework for effective, monitoring and evaluation of how we handle our business. Said Ms. Mary BAINE. She concluded urging everybody to go back with determination and implement what they have agreed.
In his return, the Head of Ethiopian delegation, Mr. Wondimu Asamnew, expressed his thanks and their impression about Rwanda.
We are impressed by what we have seen the last three days. We know from where you have started, you started from the scratch and really you have done miracle in terms of changing your country, in terms of healing your wounds. I think many countries can learn from your experience.
He also underlined that Ethiopia and Rwanda have enjoyed a long standing historical relationship both at people to people and government to government level.
So I think given the similarity of values and objectives we have, we can do a lot; we can be an example for our African brothers said Mr. Wondimu Asamnew.
