ADDIS ABABA – The new citizenship-centered foreign relations policy will greatly enhance the role of the Diasporas in their home country’s institutional and economic development, according to an expert within the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mulualem Desta, Foreign Relations Consultant at the Prime Minister Office, said that the new foreign relations policy was sculpted in relation to the concept of synergy, and will improve the overall role of citizens and maximize the contribution of the Diaspora community in their home country’s socio-economic aspirations.
Making citizens the priority instead of a mere bridge to a certain goal is the major objective of the new citizenship-centered foreign relations policy, said Mulualem. Doing multi-sectoral diplomatic activities is amongst the set targets to be implemented in the citizenship-centered foreign relations policy, he indicated.
As to him, the new policy is said to be different from the previous one in terms of the core ideas of its public and peace diplomacy, which prioritizes people-to-people relations and keeping the peace of neighboring countries. He emphasized that Prime Minister’s Abiy Ahmed role in repatriating many citizens who were jailed in various countries would be an indication of the new citizenship-centered foreign relations policy.
Unlike the previous policy, the new policy prioritizes using absolute national interest. As the relative national interest mainly leads to rivalry among countries, he said that the new policy uses the absolute or cooperative approach of national interests.
In terms of national security sources, the citizenship-centered policy’s goal is to utilize the country’s soft power. This is because it is easier to ensure Ethiopia’s national interest, its sovereignty and the rights of its citizens through negotiation, and also by using the country’s own culture and norms.
“National pride depends on its citizens’ pride. Citizens’ pride is also societal and national pride. When a nation is honored, its citizens would share it. Therefore, national and citizens’ pride are interdependent.”
The Ethiopian Herald, November 20/2019
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
