BY HIZKEL HAILU
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen confers with South Korean, UN officials
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia made phone conversation with Foreign Affairs Minister of South Korea, H.E CHUNG EUI-YONG, confer with the UN Director Graham Maitland on Ethiopia’s peacekeeping mission in Abiye this week.
During the discussion with Chung Eui-Yong, Demeke appreciated the longstanding relationship between the two countries and called on to further strengthen it.
He also spoke about the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire that the Government of Ethiopia has declared recently and its importance in letting farmers employ the planting season undisturbed by conflict.
He also expressed his hope that the humanitarian operators in the region would exploit the opportunity created for unfettered access to scale-up support to the people in the Region.
Although the ceasefire took many by surprise, the Government of Ethiopia has been deliberating on it for a while, and the decision was made considering the inherent needs of Ethiopians for peace as expressed during the 6th General election.
He finally said the international community, including South Korea, would appreciate the magnanimity of the Ethiopian government in declaring the ceasefire and discourages elements that would try to belittle it at the expense of the wellbeing of the people of Tigray.
The South Korean Foreign Minister, on his part, appreciated Ethiopia’s declaration on the humanitarian ceasefire and congratulated the government and people of Ethiopia for successfully conducting the 6th General election.
He also noted the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries and stressed the need to further cooperate in the international arena too.
He finally invited Ethiopia to participate in the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations (UNPKO) Ministerial conference that South Korea plans to host in December 2021.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced Ethiopia’s acceptance of the invitation and suggested that the two countries hold High-level Joint Ministerial Committee consultations on the margins of the Conference.
Meanwhile, with his discussion with the UN Director for Eastern African Division of the Department of Political and Peace Building Affairs and Operations Graham Maitland, Demeke has conferred on Ethiopia’s peacekeeping mission in Abiye.
The meeting aimed to discuss the strategic review of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and assess ways reconfiguring the mission.
Demeke stressed that the peacekeeping force must stay in Abiye and the necessary support should be given to it to enable it to discharge its mandate.
He said the withdrawal of the Force further exacerbates political instability and conflicts in the area.
The two sides have also discussed Sudan’s request to the UN to remove the Ethiopian peacekeepers from the disputed Abiye region.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Ethiopian troops are in Abiye based on the joint agreement of Sudan and South Sudan and under the authority of the UN.
In this regard, Demeke said Ethiopia’s force members are paying sacrifices to prevent war, and their exit, if necessary, has to be with the consent of stakeholders and in a dignified manner.
The Deputy Prime Minister also questioned the morality of some UN agencies in politicizing and unnecessarily echoing the cases of some Ethiopian soldiers who dramatize their defect from their unit just to get acceptance to their asylum quests.
Ambassador Nebil Mahdi confers with Managing Director of the SUDD Institute of South Sudan
Ambassador Nebil Mahdi, Ethiopian Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan and Abraham A. Awolich, Managing Director of the SUDD Institute of South Sudan had exchange of views pertaining to the areas of cooperation as well as regional issues.
At the occasion, the Ambassador briefed the director on current affairs and the related recent developments in Ethiopia.
In relation to Nile waters utilization and GERD project, he emphasized GERD is the source of cooperation and tool for the regional integration.
The project is not for contestation as Sudan and Egypt are trying to portray, and Ethiopia can’t agree on the colonial era treaties to which it was not signatory, the ambassador added.
Recalling Ethiopia’s long-standing contributions to the people of South Sudan, Abraham A. Awolich said, “It was Ethiopia in our side during all our difficulties.”
Speaking about the Nile waters utilization and GERD, the Managing Director said Ethiopia has full right to develop the Dam that is highly anticipated to benefit not only Ethiopia, but the project that has the positive spillover effect over the whole Eastern Africa region and beyond.
The two sides also expressed their readiness to work in close cooperation in areas of research and studies. GERD has positive spillover effect over the whole Eastern Africa region and beyond, they agreed.
Ambassador Mulu Solomon holds talks with Honorable Dr. Daniela De Ridder
Ambassador Mulu Solomon, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Federal Republic of Germany has met virtually with Honorable Dr. Daniela De Ridder, Deputy Chairwomen, and Foreign Affairs Committee at the German Parliament.
Discussions focused on the situation in Tigray Region, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the situation in Sudan and Ethiopia border and the 6th national election.
On the occasion, H.E. Ambassador Mulu briefed Honorable Dr. Ridder on the background of the situation in Tigray and latest situation in the region. The government has given unfettered access and unhindered mobility to Media’s and International Organizations, but relief supports from the international organizations remained low.
Currently up to 5.2 million people are reached with humanitarian need where 70 percent is covered by Ethiopian Government and 30 percent by international community and others the Ambassador noted. She also mentioned about the alleged Human right abuse that investigation is underway through independent bodies. Through the request and initiative of the Ethiopian government H.E. Ambassador Mulu commended and thanked the balanced view and support given by the German government in humanitarian, COVID-19, reform and election.
Honorable Dr. Ridder on her part mentioned the good relations enjoyed between the two countries and the development in Ethiopia considered as a good model. Her Honorable expressed also interest to work on Gender and Climate issues in the future.
Ambassador Eshetu Dessie confers with Michael O’Toole, Director of Africa Affairs of Ireland
Ambassador of Ethiopia to the Republic of Ireland Eshetu Dessie met and conferred with H.E Michael O’Toole, newly appointed Director of Africa Affairs of Ireland on the current situation in Ethiopia.
Ambassador Eshetu briefed the director about the unilateral ceasefire declared in Tigray, current developments on GERD and the National Election. They also discussed to work together on further strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
The Ethiopian Herald July 4/2021
