ADDIS ABABA: The Ethiopia government has praised Qatar and its new leading role on the global stage. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Sunday hosted a dinner banquet at the presidential palace with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, and members of his delegation. The banquet was attended by a number of ministers and senior Ethiopian officials and Arab ambassadors to Ethiopia. In a speech during the function, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim conveyed greetings of Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the Qatari people. He also expressed his thanks for the hospitality and warm reception, stressing co-operation between the two countries in economy, labor, tourism and agriculture fields. He noted that there had been a misunderstanding between the two sides but it was agreed to end it and that there was now no problem between the two countries. “During a meeting with the late Meles Zenawi in London in February this year, I promised to visit Ethiopia ... and now I'm on this trip, which was delayed because of circumstances," he said. Desalegn welcomed Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim's visit. “We appreciate the Qatari role in achieving peace and stability in the region and the Horn of Africa," he said. “We have followed Qatar's efforts to achieve peace in Darfur," he added. He reiterated the support of his country and Africa for these efforts by Qatar. He pointed to the important role of Qatar, stressing that co-operation between the two sides had a positive impact on the peace process at regional and international levels, stressing that “there is full co-operation in a number of areas and there is a desire between the two to develop and strengthen them.”
