Slovak Republic in defense of Ethiopia’s security

Drahomir Stos, Permanent Representative to The African Union, is an ambassador to Slovak republic to Ethiopia. He came here a year ago to discharge a mission in Ethiopia. Actually, Slovak is not as such a big country. Of course, Slovak is a developed country.

He is in charge of cementing the relation of the Slovak Republic with Ethiopia along with staffers and other two diplomatic members.

Of course, he is supported by local staff. Since the establishment of the embassy in 2010, he is working hard to foster the clicking between the two countries through governmental networking. The ties strengthening between the two countries are significant to stick together in various aspects.

Slovakia is a high-income advanced economy with a very high Human Development Index. It exhibits a very high standard of living and performs favorably in measurements of civil liberties, press freedom, internet freedom, democratic governance and peacefulness. The country maintains a combination of a market economy and comprehensive social security system. Citizens of Slovakia are provided with universal health care and free education.

The Ethiopian Herald has recently approached the Ambassador of Slovak to deal on the sharing experiences of Slovak and to show to our esteemed readers on the bilateral ties between Slovak and Ethiopia countries. Excerpts:

Herald: Has the embassy achieved its vision since its inception?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: The presence of our embassy here is not as such long.

Actually, the ties between Ethiopia and Slovak have historical backdrop. It blossomed during the Czechoslovakia political revolution.

Slovakia has also own input in the modernization process of Ethiopia. Pertaining to trade ties between the two countries Tyre Company is among the big project Slovakia got involved into in the past.

The name of the company is Addis Tyre. It was an investment by Slovak republic. After the company was transferred for a number of owners, it got different brand names. It is considered as one of the heritages of the two countries. Of course, when it comes to trade and investment the embassy has never ended chemistry with Ethiopia. The Slovak embassy has been rendering support regarding making Tyre Company.

Basically, we have two main basic goals of modernizing and supporting the socio-economic activity of the country. And at the same time the embassy has to forge good economic relations in terms of trade, cooperation in research and science. Slovak embassy is proceeding well in the long walk of tasks.

Herald: What support does the Slovak Embassy extend towards reinforcing Ethio-Slovak bilateral ties?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: In the past, many Ethiopia students had been studying in the Slovak country. About 50 Ethiopians had gone to Slovak to pursue education in various fields. We, as an embassy, have close contact with students who studied and graduated in Slovak country. Therefore, in education sector we have cooperation with the objective of capacity building of Ethiopians.

We did arm these Ethiopian students with knowledge in various technical and engineering fields as well as natural science. So we render a lot of government scholarships. We as well render education opportunities to young Ethiopia students through payment transaction for the education program.

In other words, with the collaborative effort of European Union aiming to see the fulfillment of the interest of Ethiopian society, there are educational agencies that facilitate such education programs.

Herald: Are there challenges the Slovak embassy faced towards realizing its goals?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: Actually, the two countries have been facing similar challenges. Here, one of the challenges we were beset by was lack of infrastructural facilities to fully achieve the embassy’s tasks.

We want to get enhanced support in energy, water supply, IT connectivity and transportation. In the rural parts of the country, public transportation system poses some challenges.

In energy saving we are ready to assist the country. Not only in producing energy, we want to lend hands in the provision of energy consumption production. There are about various kinds of energy saving products (and mechanisms) that Slovak Republic could introduce to Ethiopia, which needs to directly use them. In this regard, Slovak Republic has a wealth of knowledge and accumulated technological experience on how to use and consume energy in safe way.

Herald: How far has the Slovak embassy in Ethiopia been active regarding people-to-people connectivity between Ethiopian and Slovak citizens?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: The Slovak country has opened its door to visitors. Of course, we do make measurable decision to stand against immigrants who (illegally) need to enter in to our country.

We invite Ethiopians to enter into the country. We have direct connection with African countries through means of Ethiopian Air Lines.

Up to 100 Slovak visitors visit Ethiopia every year.

Herald: Does the Slovak embassy in Ethiopia have any contribution in the capacity building of the youth and the improvement of the socioeconomic condition of the Ethiopian community?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: In concert and togetherness with European Union, there are Slovak’s policies focused on helping Ethiopia. But it has to be certain that we are not focused on young people. My country is also thinking a lot to assist Ethiopia when it comes to letting Ethiopians live in a

 harmonious way.

As a matter of fact, one of the priorities is improving the skills of youths through education program .Assisting the realization of the country’s prosperity is the other task. We mostly target limited projects to render the country a beneficiary and to do something for the rural communities.

Herald: Does the embassy set plan on economy, political and military diplomacy with Ethiopia? If yes, brief us about that?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: Actually, we do not have specific goals in the country. But we aim at supporting the country in the spheres of economy, political and military cooperation. The two countries have managed to maintain their relationship with contextual framework of governmental institutions’ ties.

One of the main objectives of our discussion is helping the country to be modernized. Generally speaking, Slovak and Ethiopia are doing great in various aspects. Slovak has expressed its readiness to further cooperate with Ethiopia.

We can set projects to work together with Ethiopia in the areas of agriculture, education, among others and other sectors. Part of our cooperation also includes the activities of defense force and keeping the national security of the country. We are willing to contribute whatever level of support pertaining to the security of the country.

Herald: Does the embassy work on cultural diplomacy? If yes, could you relate that to us?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: In terms of cultural diplomatic ties, it is actually very limited in doing on cultural diplomacy.We are very happy in presenting film festivals with a framework of European Union. We could screen contemporary Slovak movie about the young people facing challenges and hardships. On the movie, we were trying to entertain the audiences using music and dancing formats.

The movie aims at the ups and down of the life cycles of youngsters.

And we have commemorated the political change and revolution that happened in Czechoslovakia and got independent Slovak Republic. We demonstrated the political revolution in a way of staging photograph exhibitions in Addis Ababa University for the students on how the revolution and the political change happened in Slovak.

The message of the exhibition is all about the achievement of political change in the preclusion of erupting violence. The message was clearly conveyed about issue of political change in every society. We are trying to produce crop variety for Ethiopia to satisfy the high demands of the people of the country.

We are also attempting to help support the living standard of the people of the country. We also try to fill the scarcity of hard currency. The other project is working on school program. We installed electric light school service in the school of Debre Sena, Amhara state which is 200 KMs far from Addis Ababa. We have facilitated electric light service for the school and that particular community. We have also done the expansion of class rooms in the school.

Herald: What are the future prospects of the embassy to achieve for?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: The embassy has been continuing to do on developmental projects in Ethiopia. We are also to maintain further the political relation with Ethiopia. We will also do on agricultural sectors. We are working to invite national electoral board parliamentary committee to talk with European Union of member countries regarding about election. Supporting Ethiopia in the election process is part and mission of European Union. The objective is to render the election transparent and inclusive.

Herald: What activities does the embassy undertake to breathe life into Slovak- Ethiopia Alumni networking?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: The Ethiopian students that studied in Slovak have cooperative network with themselves and with the Slovak Embassy. These students had studied in the fields of technical, museum and forestry. These students are working on wood processing developmental project to benefit the country.

There is vocational training institute which is mostly supported by Germany in the areas of wood working, automotive and chemical industries and as well as agriculture spheres. We have also good result in the performance of Slovak students who are actively working in museum at Addis Ababa University.

Herald: Why is that the Slovak country is not that influential in the Africa continent?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: As a matter of fact, we are prioritizing high to do activities in the Africa. So, when we are talking the role of Slovak Republic in Africa, we do have impact in the three embassies of Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa. Supporting the Africa countries is one of the tasks of European Union.

In this regard, we are participating in crafting policies and making decisions regarding how the European Union should be involved in the Africa continent. Obviously, as Slovak is part of European Union, we support the European Union in crafting policies.

And also we are helping the European Union in decision making process. European Union is doing its level best in helping Africa countries in terms of protecting the people of Africa from political unrest in the continent.

Herald: At last, do you have a message to carry across?

Amb. Drahomir Stos: I wish the Ethiopian people to be industries in further climbing up the ladder of prosperity. Such a rosy future is not possible without having peaceful co-existence and harmony in the country.

I recommend to people of Ethiopia to bar doors on the slightest chance of violence within the communities. Prosperity has been taking place in the presence of tranquility.

I wish for the country a peaceful election period, to select the right persons and to actively participate in the election poll. The country should be bright and prosperous in the not distant future with industries manner and togetherness spirit.

Ethiopian Herald Sunday edition January 19/2020

BY MEHARI BEYENE