By Addis Getachew
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) – Djibouti on Thursday accepted Ethiopia’s proposal to normalize relations with Eritrea – ties that have been strained since 2008.
The state media quoted Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu as saying that Djiboutian President Omar Guelleh agreed to normalize ties with Eritrea.
Earlier on Thursday, Workneh Gebeyehu and Eritrea's Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed flew to Djibouti and met with Foreign Minister of Djibouti Mohammed Ali Yusuf.
They discussed normalization of relations between Eritrea and Djibouti, which Ethiopia has been pressing ahead with since it resumed ties with Eritrea in May this year.
In 2008, the two neighboring nations went into confrontation due to the same unresolved border claims.
The conflict between the two countries dated back to 1996 when Djibouti accused Eritrea of crossing 7km into the border post of Ras Dumeira and since then the two countries have been at loggerheads.
In 2008, Qatari forces monitored the disputed area after the withdrawal of Eritrea upon a shaky deal hammered out.
Upon arrival back home earlier today from Asmara, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told reporters that the prospect of regional peace and cooperation was bright.
On Wednesday, the leaders of Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea met in Asmara and signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement.
