COMPILED BY TEWODROS KASSA
The Nile Riparian Countries say the AU-led Process on the GERD negotiations is the right platform to reach amicable solutions
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia met in his office on July 7, 2021 ambassadors and diplomats of the Nile riparian states in Ethiopia for a briefing on the latest status of the GERD negotiations.
During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said the GERD represents the common aspirations of all the riparian countries to equitably and reasonably utilize the water resource without significantly harming downstream countries.
In this regard, Demeke said that the latest attempts made by Sudan and Egypt to take the GERD issue to the UN Peace and Security Council by mobilizing the League of the Arab States would unnecessarily internationalize and securitize the matter.
It also leaves a dangerous precedent and takes the negotiation process away from the African Union standing contrary to the principle of solving African problems through African-led mechanisms, he added.
He said Ethiopia believes that the GERD is a development project which does not fall under the mandate of the Security Council and called on the Council to respect the ongoing AU-led trilateral negotiations and process.
Demeke finally called on the riparian countries to forge a common front in opposing the approach taken by the downstream states, which undermines the role played by the African Union and accentuates the colonial and monopolistic claims of the two countries over the resource.
Ambassadors and representatives of the missions of the Upper Riparian Countries present at the meeting appreciated the initiative taken by Ethiopia to update them on matters of the GERD as they are the main stakeholders of the shared water resource.
They further underscored that the Issue of the Renaissance Dam is their concern too since all of them also aspire to utilize the Nile River for development purposes.
They said the GERD negotiations have been in the capable hands of the African Union so far, which should further be encouraged as the resource is African and the tripartite states are in Africa.
In this regard, they underscored that all of the negotiating parties should seek peaceful solutions under the AU-led process being committed to the principle of finding “African Solutions to African problems.”
The diplomats have finally underscored that the UNSC has no mandate to decide on the GERD that is purely a development project.
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia met ambassadors and diplomats of the Nile riparian states in Ethiopia
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen converse over the phone with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malawi
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen had a telephone conversation on July 09, 2021 with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi, Hon Eisenhower Mkaka.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said Ethiopia and Malawi have a long history of diplomatic relations which further needs to be strengthened in various fields.
He also briefed Hon Eisenhower Mkaka about the ongoing joint UN-EHRC investigation on alleged crimes committed in Tigray which should not be interfered with unnecessary pressures.
The Malawian Foreign Minister, on his part, thanked Demeke for his briefing on the current situation in the country and expressed his desire to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Ethiopia and Mexico vow to strengthen relations
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, had a virtual meeting on July 8, 2021 with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, H.E. Marcelo Ebrard.
During their discussion, the two sides noted the longstanding bilateral and multilateral relations between Ethiopia and Mexico which, they said should further be strengthened with expanded engagements.
They have also discussed the ongoing tripartite negotiation on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and noted the importance of reaching an amicable solution by negotiating in good faith under the leadership of the African Union.
Demeke also seized the opportunity to explain the ongoing joint UN-EHRC investigations on alleged human rights atrocities in Tigray, which invalidates unnecessary interventions in the process.
Marcelo Ebrard finally expressed his appreciation for the briefing made by the Deputy Prime Minister regarding critical issues in the country at the moment.
He also said the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by the Ethiopian government in Tigray is commendable and it shows the government’s commitment to peace.
Speaking about the ongoing negotiations over the GERD, he said Mexico believes that the African Union is capable of handling the case and come up with a win win solution that will satisfy the needs of the negotiating parties. The diplomatic relationship between the two countries dates back to 1951.
Ambassador Mulu Solomon Presents Credentials to President of the Republic of Poland
On July 06, 2021, H.E Ambassador Mulu Solomon Bezuneh, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Republic of Poland (Resident in Germany) presented her Credentials to H.E Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland.
Upon arrival at the Belweder Courtyard, residence of the President, the Ambassador was received by H.E. Krzysztof Szczerski, Secretary of State of the president’s Chancellery and greeted by the Guard of Honor and was led to the Grand Hall where the handover of the letters of Credentials took place.
Ambassador Mulu Solomon had a discussion with H.E. the President of the Republic of Poland where she briefed the President on current situation in Tigray region including humanitarian aid, actions so far taken by the Ethiopian government and initiatives for independent investigation about alleged human rights abuses.
The Ambassador stressed Ethiopia’s important role for peace and security in the horn of Africa and requested for understanding based on corroborated information, as the world is flooded with fake news.
The Ambassador also attended wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and signed on Memorial Book. Ambassador Mulu Solomon with the President of the Republic of Poland
Ethiopian Diaspora Community in Belgium and Luxembourg Celebrated for Strong Support to National Calls
The Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels has held a program dedicated to express gratitude for the relentless support extended by the community to national calls all year round.
H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene, on the occasion, paid tribute to the community’s engagement in mobilizing advocacy efforts for various national issues as well as raising funds including for the GERD project, the COVID 19 pandemic, humanitarian support to the needy community and to the Gebeta le Hager eco-tourism projects.
Representatives of the three main community groups also spoke during the occasion. Abera Yemaneab, chair of GERD Support Group in Belgium noted his team’s engagement to create understanding about the purpose and intent of the Dam, with a view to fighting misinformation and advocate for the advantages of this flagship project both to Ethiopia and the lower riparian countries, around Europe and particularly with the EU institutions.
Dr. Zerihun Abebe, chair of the advocacy group and also the soon to be formed Council of Ethiopian Diaspora Associations in Belgium, elaborated on concrete steps taken to advocate for Ethiopia’s effort to ascertain peace and security since the attack on the Ethiopian National Defence Force by the TPLF click, with the EU institutions and Belgium. He also noted progresses made to form the Ethiopian diaspora umbrella council.
Gaas Ahmed on his part, as a chair of the resource mobilizing committee, has talked about the various resource mobilization efforts made to reach out to displaced and vulnerable people due to the security situation in some parts of Ethiopia.
Various individual and group initiatives extended by the community to help their country were also celebrated.
A video dedicated to the community’s year-long effort was screened during the event. The event was an opportune moment to rededicate the support of the Ethiopian community to the motherland especially during this critical time the country is in.
The Ethiopian Herald July 11/2021
