ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, on Tuesday praised Ethiopia for its resolute commitment to ensuring global peace through its peacekeeping contribution.
Lacroix made the remarks during his meeting with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu on Tuesday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia is one of the top troop contributing countries to the UN with more than 8,300 peacekeepers on the ground, according to the UN.
According to Lacroix, one of the grounds in which Ethiopian peacekeepers registered success is the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), where Ethiopian peacekeepers have won the trust of both sides of the warring parties.
Lacroix, who praised Ethiopia's contribution for the global peace, also called on the Ethiopian government to augment its contribution to the Blue Helmet forces.
Briefing Lacroix on regional peace and security issues, Gebeyehu also underscored the urgent need to further reinforce the security structure in Somalia despite commendable progresses witnessed in the country both in economic and political spheres over the years.
The peace process in South Sudan, brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) through Revitalization Process, was also another area of discussion among Gebeyehu and Lacroix.
According to Gebeyehu, the revitalization process is a relevant platform to ensure a meaningful peace in South Sudan.
Lacroix further assured UN's continued support to the African Union (AU), the IGAD and other viable platforms in areas of peace and security as well as undertaking capacity building programs in security infrastructure and manpower towards stability in the Horn of Africa region.
Lacroix also urged the warring parties in South Sudan to seize rare opportunities to once and for all end the miseries of the South Sudanese people.
