- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed discusses with his Eritrean counterpart
BY HIZKEL HAILU
Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia on its Facebook page announced that Prime Minister Abiy Ahimed (Ph.D.) has made a two-day working visit to Asmara and has discussed with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki on the two countries bilateral relation.
“In our March 26, 2021 discussions with President Isaias Afwerki during my visit to Asmara, the government of Eritrea has agreed to withdraw its forces out of the Ethiopian border. The Ethiopian National Defense Force will take over guarding the border areas effective immediately,” said the premier on the press released posted on the page.
On November 4, 2020 the TPLF criminal clique treasonously attacked the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in a foiled plan to seize power by destabilizing the nation.
Attacking the Northern Command where the nation’s largest weapons depot was stationed and mercilessly killing and kidnapping members of the ENDF has drawn the federal government into a military engagement it has been provoked into, the press release stated.
The press release further recalled that following the attack on the Northern Command, the TPLF fired rockets into Bahir Dar and Gonder cities. Similarly, they fired rockets into Asmara, Eritrea thereby provoking the Eritrean government to cross Ethiopian borders and prevent further attacks and maintain its national security.
“Ethiopia and Eritrea will continue strengthening their bilateral relations and economic cooperation ambitions. We will continue building on the spirit of trust and good neighborliness between our two countries as embarked upon in 2018.
In particular, restoring trust-based people to people relations among our citizens in the Tigray region and fellow Eritreans across the border is essential,” the premier added.
According to the Ministry of Information of Eritrea, the extensive consultations between the two leaders focused on bilateral partnership and the joint strategic development programs on the offing within the framework of broader regional prospects and perspectives.
In light of the common strategic partnership and envisioned joint trajectory, the vicious military attacks unleashed in the past five months, and attendant disinformation campaigns were also assessed in depth.
The two sides agreed that important lessons have been gleaned from temporary hurdles precipitated by this reality that will further bolster the joint undertakings by the two sides in the period ahead. Similarly, the two sides also agreed to hold follow-up consultative meetings in Addis Abeba, stated Ministry of Information.
Demeke Mekonnen confers with US Special Envoy to Sudan, South Sudan Ambassador Donald Booth
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, received a high-level delegation led by the US Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth, at his office today this week.
The Deputy Prime Minister briefed the delegation on the tripartite negotiations of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and other related issues.
He said although Ethiopia contributes 86% of the water share of the Nile River, 60% of its citizens still live in darkness and Ethiopia aims to change this once the construction of the dam is concluded.
Mr. Demeke affirmed that it is Ethiopia’s legal and sovereign right to use the Nile water for development fairly and equitably and that Ethiopia has no interest in harming the lower Nile Basin countries in doing so.
Recalling that the trilateral talks had been held to address concerns raised by Sudan and Egypt, he reiterated that Ethiopia has always been committed to resolving issues through negotiations.
He expressed Ethiopia’s interest in sustaining the African Union-led talks under the Chairmanship of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and said talks to change the modalities of the negotiations should be treated according to the provisions of the DOP, which was signed by the tripartite in 2015.
He also said that Sudan has been provided with information on the security of the dam and the filling of the dam is part of the overall construction project.
Mr. Demeke thanked friendly countries for their efforts to make the negotiations successful and maintain peaceful relationships among the countries in the region. Discussions between the two sides ended with mutual understanding.
Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide meets EU Commissioners in Brussels
Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, held a fruitful exchange of views with H.E. Madam Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, and H.E. Mr. Janez LENARCIC, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management in Brussels this week.
The Minister briefed the Commissioners about overall developments in Ethiopia including the upcoming national election. He further explained concrete steps being taken with regard to the provision of Humanitarian Assistance and the investigation of Human Rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
The two sides also exchanged views on the current status of the Ethio-Sudan border, the GERD negotiations as well as issues concerning Ethiopia-EU development cooperation.
During the discussion, the EU side recognized and hoped for the continuance of the positive developments registered in allowing unfettered access and the commencement of investigation to bring to justice perpetrators for alleged crimes of human rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
The EU officials further noted that the EU highly values its strategic partnership with Ethiopia and its key role in the Horn of Africa region. And it is to be recalled that the two sides reached into ‘Towards EU-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership’ in 2016.
Institute with the Embassy organizes Virtual workshop themed under “From Ethiopia to Jerusalem”
The Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research in collaboration with the Ethiopian Embassy organized a Virtual workshop on the topic “From Ethiopia to Jerusalem,” the Embassy announced.
On his opening remarks, H.E Ambassador Reta Alemu noted that the historical and spiritual relationship between the two countries enabled Ethiopia to maintain a significant place in Jerusalem.
The Director General of the institute, Mr. Lior Schillat highlighted that the Institute’s activities and researches contributes to policy makers in shaping innovative and effective policy and bring Jerusalem to the world—and the world to Jerusalem.
Professor Rehav Rubin a scholar of historical geography at the department of geography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem spoke about the relationship between Ethiopia and Israel. The renowned historian Prof Haggai Erlich also spoke at the event. Dr. Tigab Bezie and Dr. Benny Furst gave extensive presentation to the audience.
The scholars exclaimed that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church owns one of the oldest Monasteries in old city of Jerusalem, known by the name Debre Sultan, which calls for preservation. They also noted Ethiopians built numerous buildings in the new city at the turn of the 19th century, while emphasized that these buildings which are found in the Abyssinian Quarters, need renovation. The last presentation was given by Architect Sharon Shlosber who also spoke about the potential of the Abyssinian quarters.
The Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research is one of leading and influential research and policy centers in Jerusalem on various issues. The Institute is where reality shapers turn to in order to promote and define policy issues in Israel in general and in Jerusalem in particular.
At the conclusion, it was agreed that the Embassy will continue to work with the Institute to organize other events in the future.
H.E. Ambassador Nabil Mahdi presented his credentials to H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Newly appointed Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan H.E. Ambassador Nabil Mahdi presented his credentials to H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday (March 24).
The Ambassador pledged to further scale up the relationship between the two countries while President Salva Kiir thanked Ethiopia’s commendable role during South Sudan’s struggle for independence and assured the Ambassador of his government’s full support for his efforts to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The Ethiopian Herald March 28/2021
