ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali's winning of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize is "a timeless testimony" to the main ideals of unity, cooperation and mutual coexistence that he has been consistently championing, the Ethiopian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said Friday.
On Friday morning, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Abiy Ahmed "for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea," according to a press statement issued by the committee.
"The prize is also meant to recognize all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions," it added.
"This recognition is a timeless testimony to the Medemer (Amharic word for synergy) ideals of unity, cooperation and mutual coexistence that the Prime Minister has been consistently championing," the PMO statement added.
According to the PMO, Abiy Ahmed "has made peace, forgiveness and reconciliation key policy components of his administration" since he assumed leadership in April 2018.
The steps taken to amend the broken relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been "critical to regional stability and integration in the spirit of Medemer," the PMO statement said.
Ethiopia reopened its embassy in Eritrean capital Asmara last September, two months after Eritrea's embassy in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa re-opened.
This came after leaders of both countries paid landmark mutual visits in July 2018.
In addition to championing robust national reconciliation and rapprochement with Eritrea, the Ethiopian prime minister has worked to reconcile differences among countries in the Horn of Africa.
"Today, as the world notes and celebrates his achievements through bestowing the Nobel Peace Prize, we invite all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to continue standing on the side of peace," the PMO said.
"This victory and recognition is a collective win for Ethiopians, and a call to strengthen our resolve in making Ethiopia -- the new horizon of hope -- a prosperous nation for all," the PMO added.
