BY HIZKEL HAILU
Demeke Mekonnen holds talks with South Korean and Japanese Ambassadors
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia H.E. Demeke Mekonnen met at his office and held a one-to-one discussion with the Ambassadors of South Korea and Japan to Ethiopia this Friday.
Discussing with H.E. Ambassador Kang Seok-hee of the Republic of Korea, the Deputy Prime Minister appreciated South Korea’s supports in times of critical needs.
In their discussion, Demeke has stated that South Korea’s support in providing pharmaceutical equipment and sharing its experience to help Ethiopia to fight the COVID-19 pandemic was very much appreciated by the people and government of Ethiopia.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said Ethiopia takes South Korea’s development model as one of the best models that it aspires to emulate.
Ambassador Kang Seok-hee on his part said the relationship between the two countries is sealed in blood recalling the Ethiopian soldiers who fought alongside South Koreans in the 1950s.
He said the historical relationship should further be strengthened with various engagements in addition to the existing relations in technology transfer and cooperation over development projects.
Discussing with H.E. Ito Takako, Japan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Demeke appreciated the ever-growing bilateral relations, particularly in infrastructure building, education, and experience sharing schemes.
Being thankful to the development support programs of the government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Ethiopia, H.E. Demeke further briefed the Ambassador on the ongoing massive humanitarian undertakings of the government in the Tigray region, including other developments.
By the same token, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen have also exchanged a phone call with H.E. Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland this week.
During their discussion, the two sides talked the situation in the Tigray region and the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, coupled with the negotiations over the GERD.
The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated that the government is exerting its energy in providing massive scale humanitarian support in Tigray reaching 3.8 million people so far.
The government, in collaboration with the Interim administration of Tigray is doing its level best in rebuilding damaged infrastructures, reopening public services, and rehabilitating displaced people in the region, he added.
He also recalled the government’s decision in granting unfettered access to humanitarians and the media and touched upon the need to scale up humanitarian support to affected people in the region.
Regarding the human rights concerns in the region, independent institutions in Ethiopia in conjunction with the African Union would probe into the matter with the possibility of involving other parties in the investigation process, he said.
Discussing the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, Mr. Demeke underlined that the two countries can solve the problem through dialogue by employing existing mechanisms.
He said the belligerent actions of Sudan in violating the sovereignty of Ethiopia are not acceptable and the international community should pressure Sudan to respect international law and evacuate its military forces from Ethiopian lands.
They have also talked about the negotiations over the GERD and the need to resume dialogue to reach amicable solutions among the tripartite.
Mr. Haavisto, on his part, thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for the briefing, recalled his recent visit to Ethiopia as EU special envoy where he had held conversations with senior officials, and said he has been closely following encouraging situations in Tigray.
Ambassador Mulu Solomon confers with Vice-Chair of Committee for Development at the European Parliament
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Mulu Solomon has held a virtual discussion with Honorable Pierrette HERZBERGER-FOFANA, Vice-Chair of the committee on development at the European Union.
Discussions focused on the current situation in Ethiopia, particularly the status of humanitarian support in the Tigray region, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations, and preparations for the upcoming general election.
Ambassador Mulu briefly discussed the efforts of the government and international partners in providing humanitarian support in Tigray which need support from the international community.
The Ambassador called on Ms. P. HERZBERGER-FOFANA to continue supporting Ethiopia considering the multifaceted challenges that the government is facing currently.
Ms. HERZBERGER-FOFANA, on her part, recalled the advice she had offered during the European Parliaments deliberation on Ethiopia to consider the procedures before rushing to withhold financial support.
She said she favored the continuation of the longstanding development partnership between the EU and Ethiopia during the Parliament’s deliberation.
The MP also expressed her keen interest to be part of the EU’s election observation team during the 6th national election in Ethiopia.
Ambassador Meles Alem converses with Russia, EU, Ireland Ambassadors to Kenya, and Ambassador of Kenya to Ethiopia
Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Meles Alem has held a one-to-one meeting with Russian, Irish, and EU Ambassadors in Kenya, including the Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia on various issues.
Discussing with the Russian Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Dmitry Maksimychev, the two sides noted the historical Ethiopia-Russia relations and Ethiopia’s key role as the linchpin of peace in the Horn of Africa.
Ambassador Meles also briefed the EU Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Simon Mordue on the ongoing humanitarian support in Tigray and rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts in the region.
H.E. Fionnuala Quinlan, Irish Ambassador in Kenya underscored the need to strengthen ties between the two countries and reiterated Ethiopia’s role as a vehicle of peace in the region.
Discussions with the recently appointed Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Jean Njeri Kamau revealed that the Ambassador is committed to push boundaries for further cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels between the two countries.
The Ethiopian Herald March 14/2021
