COMPILED BY BACHA ZEWDIE
Ambassador Nebil Discussed with South Sudan Foreign Minister Beatrice Wani
Ambassador Nebil Mahdi met with the Foreign Minister of South Sudan, Beatrice Wani, and exchanged views of common interest.
The ambassador congratulated the minister for the establishment of the Reconstituted National Assembly and the Council of States and underscored this would hugely contribute to the speedy and full implementation of the peace agreement.
The ambassador also briefed the minister about the developments in Ethiopia. Notwithstanding the Government’s good intention for the wellbeing of the people of Tigray, TPLF has failed to reciprocate the ceasefire and continued to launch fresh attacks on multiple fronts, the ambassador said.
He said the Ethiopian National Defense Forces have all the capacity and moral authority to neutralize the hostile element.
Ambassador Nebil has also informed her about the second filling of the Dam and reiterated that the overall purpose of the dam is generating electricity.
Minister Beatrice Wani, on her part, underlined South Sudan’s commitment to the historical relations of the two sisterly countries and stressed that South Sudan wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to Ethiopia.
The minister also emphasized the positive impact of the GERD in generating energy and noted that amicable solutions are needed to solve the stalemate in the negotiations.
Statement on preoccupying issues in Ethiopia and the way forward
The situation in Tigray and the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by the Government of Ethiopia, including the need to enhancing All-inclusive National Dialogue, have been the major preoccupying issues lately.
The Government of Ethiopia has been committed to the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire that it has declared on 28 June 2021 in a bid to give respite to the people of Tigray and make use of the farming season.
Regrettably, the TPLF has failed to reciprocate. The terrorist group chose to launch new attacks in neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara, which left more than 300,000 people displaced and thousands dead. The Government of Ethiopia has been firm in its commitment to the ceasefire. However, the international community should stop giving a deaf ear to the ongoing atrocities of the terrorist enterprise of TPLF. The Government of Ethiopia could not allow the warmongering group to launch new attacks in neighboring regions and continue disrupting the livelihood of the people.
The action of the irresponsible group is testing the Federal Government’s patience and pushing it to change its defensive mood which has been taken for the sake of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire. It is high time to call a spade a spade and hold the terrorist group accountable for the death of thousands of teenagers that it is wantonly using as cannon fodders.
Though the Federal Government of Ethiopia has left no stone unturned to give lasting peace to the situation in Tigray, it’s being forced to do none but respond to the renewed resolve of the terrorist TPLF to expand the conflict to the neighboring regions and destabilizing the country.
Concerning humanitarian access, the Government of Ethiopia remains committed to employing everything at its disposal to expedite the process and let the necessary aid reach the people of Tigray. The effort to give humanitarian support also includes the newly displaced people of the Afar and Amhara regions due to the ongoing atrocities of the terrorist enterprise of TPLF.
The terrorist enterprise has been playing the victim while keeps on hindering humanitarian access. The Government of Ethiopia once again calls upon the international community to condemn continued acts of hostility perpetrated by the terrorist TPLF despite the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire.
The government of Ethiopia also reiterates its demand that the illegal armed group active in Tigray at the moment desist from the use of terrorist tactics, covert and overt hostile acts, and acts of aggression. The Government of Ethiopia also calls upon the masterminds of the attack against the northern command to stand trial for their wanton crimes against the Ethiopian state, its constitutional order, and the suffering and pain their reckless acts have caused.
The government of Ethiopia also reaffirms its commitment to ensuring accountability and justice for crimes and gross violations of pertinent legal norms committed by any party throughout the duration of and before the onset of the conflict. It also underscores the need to respect democratic norms and principles as enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, while categorically rejecting all initiatives and external pressures to circumvent the constitutional order and the expressed will of the people of Ethiopia through the ballot box.
Regarding enduring peace, enhancing democratization, and the ongoing reform process, Ethiopia has recently conducted one of the most transparent, free, fair, democratic, and credible elections. Ethiopia believes that the election laid a strong foundation for building democratic culture in the country. The new government will incorporate members of opposition political parties and enhance the ongoing inclusive national dialogue to broaden democratization and boost national consensus.
With continued fresh attacks in neighboring Afar and Amhara regions, the intransigence of the warmongering TPLF is increasingly making every endeavor to peace unattainable. Thus, cognizant of its moral, legal, and political obligation to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state, the Federal Government of Ethiopia is being pushed to mobilize and deploy the entire defensive capability of the state if its humanitarian overtures for a peaceful resolution of the conflict remain unreciprocated.
Peace Corps representing Ethiopian civic organizations in the US affirm commitment to stand by Ethiopia
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen warmly welcomed to his office today (August 03) members of a peace corps formed by Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian origin in the United States.
The Peace Corps represents more than 30 civic organizations in various parts of the United States organized to advance the interests of Ethiopia and address the needs of Ethiopians in different sectors.
Leading the nine-member delegation, Prof. Biruk said they are in Ethiopia to appreciate the positive accomplishments of the Ethiopian government and reaffirm their solidarity with the people and government of Ethiopia.
The group briefed the Deputy Prime Minister their activities that contributed to the development and image building efforts of Ethiopia as well as their delivery of humanitarian support to those in need in the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister, on his part, commended the valuable efforts of Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian origins in the US who have been able to register tangible results that advanced Ethiopia’s interests so far.
Demeke also said the government of Ethiopia is keen on supporting the group’s activities and further advancing the country’s interests.
Ethiopia, Algeria Establish Business Council
Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association and the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have signed an MoU that establishes Ethiopia-Algeria Business Council. The establishment of the Business Council is expected to enhance comprehensive economic ties between Ethiopia and Algeria.
The Minister of Trade of Algeria, the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Algeria, The Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Algeria, the Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral association of
Ethiopia, the Representative of Deputy Director for Africa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, and representative of the Embassy of Algeria in Addis Ababa have attended the program.
In his opening remarks, Algerian Minister of Trade, H.E Kemal Razig, underlined the need to translate the existing strong diplomatic relations between the two countries into a stronger cooperation in the areas of trade and investment.
Commending the incredible efforts discharged by the Ethiopian Embassy in Algiers and the Algerian Embassy in Addis Ababa to bring the two countries’ business community closer together, he affirmed the readiness of the Algerian Government to support the work of enhancing trade exchanges between the brotherly countries.
H.E Amb. Nebiat Getachew, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Algeria, on his part underscored the existence of a strong desire to conduct various trade and investment exchanges between the two countries’ business community. He also thanked the two countries’ chambers of commerce and industry for their strong initiative to sign the MOU agreement and taking the process of enhancing cooperation in the field of business.
Algerian Foreign Ministry Director for African Affairs, Miss Lina Ahmimi, recalled the recent visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of Algeria, H.E Ramtane Lamamra, to Ethiopia and underscored strengthening trade and investment relations between the two countries was one of the issues given due emphasis during his discussion with higher Ethiopian officials. She also mentioned readiness of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria to support business initiatives from both sides.
Youssef Ademnur, the Secretary General of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Association, who signed the memorandum of understanding, representing the Chamber, on his part explained his strong belief in newly established business council to play a vital role in strengthening the relationship, and he explained the readiness of his Institution to implement the agreement.
After signing the MOU, the Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Algeria, H.E Madame Bahloul Wahiba, proposed to exchange the copy of the signed agreement and the list of the contacts of the businessmen from both countries who are interested in each other’s markets, through diplomatic channels. The two parties also agreed to hold in person sideline meeting in the coming October, at the Dubai International Expo, where both will be participating.
It is to be recalled that an agreement has been reached to establish a business council to strengthen the relationship between the two countries’ business community during the Ethio-Algeria virtual Trade Promotion event hosted by the FDRE Embassy in Algiers in January 2021.
The Ethiopian Herald August 8/2021
