Mereja.Forum

[Somaliman]

Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in an interview with VOA's Horn of Africa Service.

Djibouti is ready to hand over a new port, a brand-new port that has been built, a brand-new corridor to the northern border of Djibouti, that corridor will be very helpful to Ethiopia, at least to decrease the cost of transport.

Djibouti is also ready to consider a mix-management of the port with Ethiopia.

Asked whether Djibouti's offer included a naval base for Ethiopia.

No.

Djibouti is a small country, which is already crowded, so we have even turned down from other countries — India, Russia, and we told them that it's a very small place, so we don't want to create any friction, any tension between those who are already present.

[Dark Energy]

That is nice of Djibouti. No funky business, Grand pa France is watching. BTW, what does Djibouti get in return ?

[Somaliman]

That is nice of Djibouti. No funky business, Grand pa France is watching. BTW, what does Djibouti get in return ?

Good question.

Djibouti put the port proposal on the table a month ago and informed Ethiopian leaders, who responded.

The response we get is a positive one, so they are considering the technicalities of it, so we'll certainly in a few days' time or in [a] few weeks, sit down again and put the final adjustments to the formula and see how we can help. Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf

The devil is in the detail, therefore, let's wait and see the detail.

[AbyssiniaLady]

No naval base for war-torn Ethiopia, I am pleased to hear that.

[Somaliman]

The rhetoric of Galla Ethiopia's pressing need for ports is just a distraction, as Ethiopia's export and import volumes are relatively meaningless. Ethiopia is the 134 exporter in the world, and its product exports, such as cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, coffee, and gold are all shipped via air freight.