Abu Dhabi crown prince holds discussions with Ethiopian prime minister

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed discussed cooperation between their two countries and the potential for their development in various fields that serve their mutual interests, in addition to the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic.

Both sides examined the measures taken by the UAE and Ethiopia and the mechanisms used to deal with the challenge of the virus, in addition to ways to enhance cooperation and coordination between countries in the context of the regional and international efforts to control the pandemic and reduce its repercussions and effects at humanitarian and economic levels.

The UAE, which has been keen to provide support and medical assistance to countries fighting the spread of the coronavirus, recently dispatched a cargo plane to Ukraine with 11 tons of medical supplies on board which will benefit about 10,000 medical workers in their fight against the virus.

“The delivery of aid by the UAE to Ukraine comes as an initiative with the countries that are tackling the new spread of the coronavirus and showing solidarity with those who face unprecedented challenges such as the one the world is witnessing now with the spread of the virus,” UAE Ambassador to Ukraine Salem Ahmed Salem Al-Kaabi.

He added that this assistance will enable medical personnel to perform their duty in combatting the spread of virus in the country.

The ambassador stressed that the UAE and its leadership stand with Ukraine and all the peoples of the world to overcome this humanitarian crisis.

He pointed out that, in addition to the medical supplies, the relief plane had on board 113 Ukrainian citizens being evacuated to their homeland in coordination between the authorities of the two countries to ensure their safe return.

In a similar gesture, the UAE also dispatched a cargo plane to Italy with about ten tons of various medical and protective supplies to support medical workers in efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran was not excluded from the UAE’s initiatives. The Emirates have shored up the World Health Organisation's (WHO’s) efforts to deliver medical supplies to the neighbouring country.

In Europe, the UAE delivered tons of medicine and medical equipment to Serbia and Croatia at a time when the European Union has been criticised for being slow to provide needed aid to European countries less able to cope with the pandemic.