JOINT COMMUNIQUE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA ISSUED ON THE OCASSION OF THE WORKING VISIT TO KENYA BY H.E. ATO MELES ZENAWI OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

1. At the invitation of His Excellency Honourable Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Ato Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia paid an official visit to Kenya on 16th January, 2007 and held consultations on the ongoing situation in the Horn of Africa.

2. In a warm and friendly atmosphere the two leaders held talks on Bilateral and Regional issues and in particular on the diplomatic initiatives currently being undertaken by President Mwai Kibaki as Chairman of IGAD and therefore African focal point for Somalia.

3. At the bilateral level the two Heads of State re-affirmed their commitment in promoting the existing friendly relations between the two countries and in working together to maintain peace and tranquility along their common borders.

4. At the regional front, the two leaders welcomed the progress towards stabilizing the situation in Somalia. They underlined their commitment in mobilizing regional and international support to help Somalia achieve peace and security and to embark on the process of reconstruction. In this regard, the leaders called for the immediate deployment of an AU-IGAD stabilization force to Somalia in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1725 of 6th December, 2006. The two leaders welcomed the offers made by a number of African countries to contribute troops and invited other African countries to support the initiative.

5. The two leaders noted that the developments in Somalia and in particular the return of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to Mogadishu was a positive development which presented a window of opportunity for the international community to consolidate peace and stabilize Somalia.

6. In this regard, they agreed to intensify consultations between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the immediate neighbouring countries in order to enhance the stabilization in Somalia.

7. The two leaders called upon the Transitional Federal Government to continue pursuing the process of consolidation of peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

8. H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi thanked Kenya for the constructive role it had continued to play in the regional peace efforts. He also expressed his gratitude to his host, President Mwai Kibaki for the warm and brotherly welcome extended to him during his visit.

Done in Nairobi, this 16th Day of January, 2007.