U.S. Military General and Flag Officers Visit Ethiopia

February 27, 2008
No. 04/08

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) Sunday, 24 February, 2008 -- Fourteen newly selected American military general and flag officers have concluded a three-day visit, February 21-24, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  They are part of a program, called CAPSTONE, which provides seminars and field experience in national military strategies and how multinational operations support national strategic goals and objectives under the auspices of the National Defense University.  The fourteen officers visited Egypt prior to their visit to Ethiopia, and will next travel to Djibouti and several southwest Asian countries. 

While in Ethiopia, the newly selected American military general and flag officers had separate meetings with Ato Kuma Demeksa, Minister of Defense, General Samora Yunus, Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, and Ato Tekeda Alemu, State Minister of Foreign Affairs. They also met with the African Union and United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) officials.

In addition to their official meetings, the fourteen officers visited Entoto Raguel Church, the September 11 memorial on Entoto Mountain, as well as the National Museum.