The Chairman of Egyptian ruling military council, Hussein Tantawi, expressed his gratitude in meeting the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and said efforts must be intensified to promote relations with Ethiopia. The Ethiopian ambassador in Cairo, Mahmoud Dereer, said discussions were held between the military council and Zenawi included common causes between both countries such as the file of the Nile River, realizing peace and security in the region regarding neighboring countries. Mahmoud also said Youm7 they reached a consensus during the discussion between Meles and military council. He added Meles is glad for his visit in Cairo and for the return of the warm relations with Egypt. He commented this should be the real route for relations in the upcoming stage. The Ethiopian Prime Minister also met with his Egyptian counterpart Essam Sharaf, where they discussed bilateral cooperation means in different fields, especially economic, commercial and investment. Discussions were also held to enhance the trade volume between both countries, to reach half a billion U.S. dollars. Current trade volume between both countries reached 300 million U.S. dollars. Prime Ministers also discussed the best means to employ the Nile river, to increase the river's resource for both countries and to establish common projects in the agriculture field. Sharaf said post-revolution Egypt is keen to establish new relations with African countries since they are considered strategic extension of Egypt.
