Declaration of friendship signed with Russia

The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, signed a declaration of friendship and partnership with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday and thanked Russia for its longstanding and friendly relationship with Ethiopia. Prime Minister Meles made his comments during a three-day trip to Russia for which he said the main purpose was to "express my thanks to Russia for staying with us in times of need." Meles arrived in Moscow on Sunday accompanied by Ethiopia's ministers of defence, foreign affairs, and mining, the Associated Press reported on Monday. It is understood that talks were held on arms supplies and that discussions had centred on plans to help Ethiopia modernise its air force and air defences. Ethiopia and Russia have long enjoyed warm relations dating back to the rule of former Ethiopian ruler and Marxist dictator Haile Mengistu Mariam who seized power in 1974 from Emperor Haile Selassie. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached more than US $50 million last year.