Ethiopia, South Africa to sign pact on joint air force training

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - South African Defence Minister Lindy Sisulu, has affirmed Johannesburg’s willingness to boost bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia, including the signing of an agreement on joint air force training.

The visiting South African Defence Minister, who held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, said South Africa was keen to work in collaboration with Ethiopia to share experiences in air force training.

She said the two sides would boost bilateral relations, which also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the near future, to boost the training.

Meles said a joint training committee would be set up to work towards the sharing of experiences, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

“The two parties discussed various issues concerning ways of strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual benefit,” the foreign ministry statement added.

South Africa is promising to help Ethiopia in the areas of agricultural extension services and human resource development.
-0- PANA AO/BOS 20Dec2011