Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said Ethiopia would strengthen support to Sudan and South Sudan with a view to help them end crisis permanently.

While conferring with Rosalind Marsden, EU Special Representative for Sudan, on Wednesday, the Premier said his country would continue playing its role for the peaceful resolution of differences between the two countries.

He said efforts are being exerted to extend deadline to shut oil pipelines running from South Sudan, which was ordered by President Omar Hassan AlBashir of Sudan, according to a senior Ethiopian government official who attended the discussions.

Marsden told reporters after the meeting that EU hopes that the two countries would build peaceful relations.