In a joint communiqué issued after their meeting in the
Ethiopian capital, President Jonathan and his host regretted the continued
violence and loss of lives in Libya
caused by resistance by Muammar Ghaddafi’s loyalists to the consolidation of
the NTC’s authority.
Applauding the recognition of the NTC by the African Union,
the two leaders urged the Council to move quickly to form an all-inclusive
government that will work towards national reconciliation and reconstruction.
Mr Jonathan and Prime Minister Zenawi also urged the
chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Jean Ping to “engage more
vigorously with the National Transition Council and take steps to ensure an
early resumption of full participation by Libya in African Union affairs”.
They condemned the growing incidence of global terrorism in
all its forms and agreed to join hands with the international community to
fight the common threat to humanity.
The African leaders also agreed on the need to expand areas
of economic cooperation between Nigeria
and Ethiopia
through the provision of an enabling environment and an appropriate regulatory
framework.
They agreed to encourage and promote private sector
participation in their two economies, particularly in the areas of
power,energy, aviation, tourism and mining.
To this end, an agreement was also reached by both leaders
to revitalize their Joint Ministerial Commission and reposition it as a key
vehicle for the expansion of bilateral economic cooperation.
Nigeria is to host the next session of the
commission early next year.
On a visit to the headquarters of the African Union in Addis
Ababa earlier in the day, President Jonathan assured the chairperson of the AU
Commission, Dr Ping, its commissioners, directors and other senior officials
that Nigeria, under his leadership, will remain in the forefront of efforts to
ensure that the organisation’s objectives are fully achieved.
President Jonathan urged the AU to continue to work for
political stability in Africa by encouraging
full democratisation and good governance in all African countries.
Dr Ping thanked Mr Jonathan for visiting the AU Commission
in spite the time constraints imposed by his busy schedule in Addis Ababa, saying that the visit was a
demonstration of the importance the president attaches to the African Union and
its work.
Praising Nigeria’s contributions to peace in Africa and the
world through ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations, Dr Ping urged
President Jonathan to sustain Nigeria‘s leading role on the continent.
At a meeting with members of the Nigerian community in Ethiopia late
Thursday, President Jonathan reaffirmed his commitment to achieving significant
and enduring socio-economic transformation of the country before the end of his
tenure.
He also assured the gathering that his administration was
taking positive steps to improve security in the country.
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