Hargeysa, Somaliland, April 29, 2006 - Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin received the new ambassador of Ethiopia to Somaliland Wubeshet Demmise on Thursday morning.

Ambassador Wubeshet will replace Abdete Drisba who was the Ethiopian representative to Somaliland since 2002, when the trade liaison office of Ethiopia was opened in Somaliland.

In a press release of the presidential spokesman, Ambassador Wubeshet was quoted that he is grateful for his nomination to Somaliland, which shares common culture and relations with his country.

President Rayale told the Ambassador that his government will work with the new Ambassador, and praised the previous Ethiopian representative in Somaliland. The President praised the key role Abdete Drisba had played in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

It is the first time the Ethiopian government has nominated a diplomatic official with the title ambassador to head its representative office in Hargeysa.

Source: Somaliland Times