Ethiopia, Eritrea declare war 'has come to an end'

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia and Eritrea are no longer at war, the neighboring nations said in a joint statement Monday after a series of historic meetings in Asmara to end decades of acrimony and conflict. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said on Twitter that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, 41, and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, 71, had inked a ''Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship'' on the second day of the state visit. The statement declared that the ''state of war that existed between the two countries has come to an end. A new era of peace and friendship has been ushered (in). '' '' Both countries will work to promote close cooperation in political, economic, social, cultural and security areas,'' Yemane added.