Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman arrived on Wednesday afternoon in Ethiopia, as the first leg of his African visit. Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin received Lieberman at the Addis Ababa airport, the Foreign Ministry announced in a statement, Jerusalem Post reported
Lieberman proceeded to open the Ethiopia-Israel economic forum, where he stated that the large Israeli economic delegation that accompanied him demonstrated the significance Israel sees in its economic and business ties with Ethiopia, noting the important role Ethiopia and additional African states can have in assisting to advance peace efforts through their connections with Muslim states and the Arab world.
Later on Wednesday, the two foreign ministers met again in Addis Ababa and signed a cooperation agreement between the Israel and Ethiopia, agreeing to create an open line for direct and continuous communication.
Lieberman and Mesfin also discussed global security challenges that stem from the intensification of extremist and terrorist elements. Lieberman stated that organizations such as al-Qaida and the activities of Iran destabilize many states.