afrol News, 2 October - Ethiopia has announced that it has restored full diplomatic relations with Norway, more than a year after expelling six of the country's diplomats.

Ethiopia cut back ties after accusing Norway of reaching out to anti-Ethiopian groups. It also said Norway was supporting both arch-rival Eritrea and Ethiopian separatist groups backed by Eritrea.

According to a communiqué issued by Ethiopian government, foreign ministers of two countries met during United Nations General Assembly in New York and agreed to restore relations to their previous status.

"Accordingly, decision taken by government of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia last year in connection with diplomatic representation of Kingdom of Norway in Addis Ababa has been rescinded," statement said.

A statement said two ministers reviewed report of Joint Technical Committee established with a mandate to look into all aspects of problems and misunderstandings that led to the regrettable turn of events in relations between Ethiopia and Norway.

"The ministers expressed satisfaction with the work of the technical committee, and agreed to restore relations between the two countries to their previous status," the statement added.

"It is the hope of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that cooperation between our two countries will now continue to deepen in all areas," statement read.

Norway claimed the expulsion was prompted by a meeting in which Norway attempted to sooth tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their disputed border.

Norway then withdrew US$5 million of its planned allotment of US$17 million in development aid.

The row was caused by Norway's support for the next round of border talks with Eritrea to be held at UN headquarters in New York.

Eritrea won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 but relations between two neighbours remained tense. A border war erupted in 1998, costing about 70,000 lives.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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