COMPILED BY HIZKEL HAILU
Demeke Mekonnen meets IOM Chief in Ethiopia Maureen Achieng
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia received at his office H.E. Maureen Achieng, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission to Ethiopia and Representative to AU and UNECA.
Discussing on Ethiopia’s measures in curbing illegal migration and experiences in addressing the needs of repatriated citizens, the Deputy Prime Minister commended the IOM for its strong partnership with Ethiopia on the issue of migration, particularly its commitment to help Ethiopian citizens stranded in Africa and the Middle East due to COVID-19.
The Deputy Prime Minister also briefed Maureen Achieng the measures that the Ethiopian government has been taking in tackling the root causes of migration in the country.
In this regard, he said the federal government is closely working with regional states to create awareness on the perils of illegal migration and cooperate with pertinent bodies in bringing human traffickers into account.
He finally pointed out that Ethiopia considers the IOM as its key humanitarian and development partner and reaffirmed the country’s strong desire to further enhance cooperation with the organization.
Achieng on her part, said IOM is committed to continue to working closely with the Ethiopian government and the relevant authorities in addressing the needs of Ethiopian migrants, particularly in the context of the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Ambassador Deriba Kuma holds virtual meeting with Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of Danish Parliament (Folketinget)
H.E. Ambassador Deriba Kuma has held a virtual meeting with Honorable Bertel Haarder, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of Danish Parliament (Folketinget) on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
Ambassador Deriba particularly focused on the improving situations of Tigray region, Ethiopia’s desire and efforts to amicably solve the border dispute with Sudan and update on the negotiations over the GERD.
He further emphasized the fact that normalcy is getting back to Tigray and the provision of humanitarian assistance has been enhanced with around 4.5 million beneficiaries reached so far. Ambassador Deriba also underscored the need for the international community to encourage Egypt and Sudan not to obstruct the AU led GERD negotiations for the AU is the ideal platform to handle such African issues.
Honorable Bertel Haarder on his part stated the importance of maintaining peace and security and Denmark towards that end is contributing to the Africa Peace Program. Honorable Bertel also pointed out that Danish development cooperation with Ethiopia should be strengthened with primary focus on SDGs, sustainable agriculture, social development and women and girls.
Two sides also agreed to work further to strengthen the cooperation between the two sisterly countries.
Ministries of Foreign and Water Affairs of Ethiopia brief African Ambassadors on GERD and Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute
H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen and H.E. Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr. Seleshi Bekele briefed African Ambassadors in Addis Ababa regarding the AU led trilateral Ministerial meeting between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance (GERD) held in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 4-5 April 2021.
In the briefing, the two Ministers highlighted the issues discussed at the Kinshasa meeting and Ethiopia`s perspectives on the matter. The Ministers stressed that cooperation and the spirit of African brotherhood are the best option for the management and utilization of the waters of the Nile.
The Ministers has expressed his disappointment on attempts of Egypt and the Sudan who claim the GERD as a threat to Arab water security while all riparian countries are Africans including Egypt and the Sudan.
Therefore, the Ministers emphasized that such politicization is not acceptable and encouraged the diplomats not to fall into these traps.
The Ministers informed the Ambassadors that in order to facilitate the exchange of data regarding the upcoming second year filling of the GERD that will commence in July 2021, Ethiopia in good faith has taken the initiative and formally communicated through the Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy to his counterparts in Sudan and Egypt.
In addition to the trilateral negotiations on the GERD, the Ambassadors were briefed about the current situation along the Ethiopia-Sudan boundary and Ethiopia`s firm commitment to resolve the matter through a peaceful means based on the bilateral agreements and existing boundary mechanisms.
The Ambassadors on their part expressed their profound thanks for the briefing and emphasized the importance of reaching a win-win outcome on the GERD through the AU led negotiation based on the principle of “African solutions to Africa`s problems.”
They further appreciated Ethiopia`s determination to resolve the Ethiopia-Sudan boundary issue peacefully.
Ethiopias Ambassador to Sudan Yibletal Aemero, holds discussion with Salwa Mohamed, Secretary General of the Sudanese Council for International People’s Friendship
H.E Yibletal Aemero, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Republic of the Sudan met and held fruitful discussions with Salwa Mohamed, Secretary General of the Sudanese Council for International People’s Friendship.
During the discussion, Ambassador Yibeltal underscored the deep rooted, cultural and historical people to people relations between Ethiopia and Sudan.
The Ambassador emphasized that it is high time to engage in activities that further strengthen the people to people relations between Ethiopia and Sudan. In this regard, Ambassador expressed the readiness of the Embassy to undertake in close collaboration with the Council.
Moreover, Ambassador stressed importance and the readiness of the Embassy to engage with the Council to organize various events that further enhance the people to people relations between Ethiopia and Sudan.
Secretary General Salwa Mohamed on her part stated that the peoples of Ethiopia and Sudan are one people with deep rooted historical and cultural ties. Recalling the successful visit to Ethiopia by Sudanese Public diplomacy Delegation on November 2019, Salwa underlined the need for undertaking activities that further enhance the people to people relations between Ethiopia and Sudan more than ever.
In this respect, the Secretary General expressed the readiness of the Council to arrange for the visit by Ethiopian Public Diplomacy Delegation to Sudan in the near future.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador in South Sudan holds talks with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar
Ambassador of Ethiopia to South Sudan, H.E. Nabil Mahdi discussed bilateral and regional issues with South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
Although the diplomatic relationship between the two countries is based on solid foundations, he said, it should be strengthened by linking the two countries by road and energy infrastructure.
The Ambassador also briefed the First Vice President on the ongoing negotiations on the Renaissance Dam, the Ethiopia-Sudan border issue, and the current situation in Tigray.
Dr. Riek Machar, on his part, said it is important to link Ethiopia’s renewable energy and South Sudan’s vast oil resources to register better economic performance.
He also expressed hope that the situation in Tigray would soon be fully resolved and that there would be lasting stability in Ethiopia.
The First Vice President said there is a technical solution to the dispute over the Renaissance Dam and alternative solutions should be sought instead of politicizing the issue.
The border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan is unexpected and tragic and should be resolved through dialogue, he said.
He expressed hope that all the signatory parties, including him, various stakeholders, and the international community would continue to strengthen their support for the success of the peace process.
Ambassador Nabil assured that Ethiopia will continue to support the implementation of the peace agreement.
The Ethiopian Herald 18 April 2021
