ADDIS ABABA: The government of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian rebel group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), have announced a peace negotiation agreement after the two days of meetings in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting was facilitated by Kenyan government on the behalf of President Moi Kibaki. 10 members from both sides Ethiopia and ONLF held the meeting and the meeting took place, on September 6 and September 7 in Nairobi, according to an ONLF statement sent to Ogaden Today Press. The Ethiopian delegation was led By the Defence Minister of Ethiopia Siraj Fegessa and Abdirahman Mahdi, the Foreign Secretary of the Ogaden National Liberation Front, led the ONLF delegation from the Somalis in Ogaden, and Mohamed Yusuf Haji, the Minister of State and Agriculture Minister for Provincial Administration and Internal Security of Kenya led the facilitation team. After exchanging opening statements presented by the head of the delegations, both sides showed a willingness to push for a peace agreement in the Ogaden region in Ethiopia and agreed on the modalities of the negotiation process. According to the ONLF statement, “there are the general principles agreed upon” that would be the basis for resolving the conflict: 1. Formal negotiations between the Ethiopian government and Ogaden National Liberation Front shall be held to resolve the conflict; 2. The common goal of the aforementioned negotiations shall be the attainment of a just and lasting peace; 3. Such negotiations shall be comprehensive and address the substantive issues that are the root causes of the conflict; 4. The holding of negotiations must be in accordance with mutually acceptable principles and no preconditions shall be made to negate the inherent character and purpose of the peace negotiations. 5. The substantive agenda of the peace negotiations shall include issues that will facilitate the implementation of any peace agreement; 6. Both parties shall agree to specific measures of goodwill and confidence building in order to create a favorable climate for the negotiations. Ethiopian Communications Minister Bereket Simon confirmed the peace plan, saying it is “a very positive step." The Ogaden National Liberation Front has fought in Ogaden since 1984. The Ogaden region is believed to be rich with natural gas reserves estimated at four trillion cubic feet, and is seeking greater autonomy. In April 2007, the group attacked a site operated by China's Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, killing 9 Chinese workers and 65 Ethiopians.
