Demeke Mekonnen hold talks with his DRC’s counterpart on the tripartite negotiations over the GERD
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen held talks this week with H.E. Christophe Lutundula, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The discussion between the two sides focused on the resumption of the tripartite negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has been held under the leadership of the African Union.
On the occasion, Demeke expressed his appreciation for the positive role played by the government of the DRC in the trilateral negotiations on the GERD. He also affirmed Ethiopia’s determination to continue the tripartite talks as soon as possible.
Demeke further expressed Ethiopia’s strong desire for equitable and reasonable water use, noting that the Nile Basin should be a source of cooperation rather than conflict. He said the previous trilateral negotiations had yielded tangible results, adding that it would be possible to narrow the differences between the three countries by resuming the negotiation as soon as possible.
Christophe Lutundula, for his part, expressed his delight over the peacefully concluded national elections in Ethiopia. Regarding the GERD negotiations, he lauded Ethiopia’s commitment to continue participating in the talks.
He said the DRC strongly believes in the principle of “African solution to Africa’s problems” which should guide the Renaissance Dam talks that could start shortly.
Muferihat Kamil meets with representatives of the UN, other international organizations
The Minister of Peace and Chairperson of Emergency Coordinating Committee, Muferihat Kamil met this week with representatives of the United Nations and other international organizations involved in the coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance in the northern part of the country.
Briefing the representatives on latest developments in the country, Muferihat said that support being provided by the United Nations and other international humanitarian organizations in Amhara and Afar regions is currently extremely low and needs to be boosted.
The Minister urged the international humanitarian organizations to pay equal attention and put in as much effort to the humanitarian crisis in the Amhara and Afar regions as much as their efforts in the Tigray region.
She added that it is imperative for the organizations to expand support to the two regions in accordance with the spirit of their establishment and the duties they are entrusted with. She reiterated that trucks carrying aid to the Tigray region have not returned within the outlined timeframe and that the responsible humanitarian organizations should have the trucks return to the center immediately and debrief on the situation.
Algerian GISB Group Heads to Ethiopia for an Investment Visit
An Algerian delegation headed by Djilani Kobibi Bachir, CEO of Industrial Sidi Bendehiba (GISB) Group is visiting Ethiopia from September 17-24, 2021 for Investment meeting with Ethio-Engineering Group (EEG) and a series of engagements with governmental and private sector actors.
This investment visit, organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Algiers upon the invitation of Ethio-Engineering Group, is expected to forge cooperation between GISB and EEG on enhancing production capacity, manufacturing Input supply, technical and technology transfer.
In a pre-visit meeting with the delegation, Ambassador Nebiat Getachew, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the FDRE to Algeria, noted that it is time to complement the excellent political and diplomatic relationship between Ethiopia and Algeria with a robust commercial and investment ties.
Djilani Kobibi Bachir CEO of GISB, on his part explained his company’s readiness to enter collaborative engagement with EEG.
The two parties have earlier agreed to exchange visits to consolidate relationships and forge Investment partnership. The investment visit is a result of the virtual pre-investment meeting held on 30 June 2021 hosted by the Embassy of Ethiopia to Algeria.
PEPSoD donates USD 21,897 to support internally displaced people in Ethiopia
“Platform of Ethiopian Professionals in Kenya for Sustainable Development” (PEPSoD) donated USD 21,897 to support internally displaced people in Ethiopia.
Representing the Platform, Dr. Taye Teferi handed over the money to H.E. Ambassador Meles Alem, ambassador of Ethiopia to Kenya. Ambassador Meles thanked the group for the continued support extended to Ethiopia at its time of need, including the fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Ethiopia urges British Museum to return the sacred treasures of Ethiopia
Ambassador Teferi Melesse Desta this week made his maiden visit to the British Museum, where he renewed Ethiopia’s outstanding claims for the return of 11 Holy Arks in the Museum’s possession looted by British soldiers following the battle of Maqdala in 1868.
The Ambassador was welcomed by British Museum Director, Hartwig Fischer, who led a brief tour of the Museum’s most prominent exhibits, before the two sides engaged in a dialogue on the future of looted Arks and potential opportunities for collaboration with Ethiopia. During the discussions, Ambassador Teferi further lodged two letters with the Director from the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Hirut Kassaw (PhD), and the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, His Holiness Abba Mathias I, urging the Museum’s Board of Trustees to expedite a decision on the return of these sacred treasures.
In renewing the claim, the Ambassador emphasized that the Museum had a moral obligation to act as the Church, as well as millions of Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia and beyond, consider the Arks continued presence in museums to be deeply offensive and sacrilegious.
On his part, the Museum’s Director assured that the request for the return of these important and sacred objects, which would never be displayed, accessed or studied at the Museum, would be given all due attention and the consideration it merits by the Board of Trustees.
Ethiopian communities living in Kuwait, Bahrain donate for the ENDF, GERD
Ethiopians living in Kuwait donated more than 1,100,000.00 Birr (One Million One Hundred Thousand Birr) in support of our heroic Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF).
Upon receiving the collected money from coordinators, Ambassador Hassan lauded the active participation of Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent in Kuwait in responding positively to national development calls and said that the financial support raised by such a movement is a source of pride for our victorious army.
Similarly, more than USD 10,000 worth of bonds was purchased in Bahrain following the successful completion of the second phase filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting the government until the completion of the Renaissance Dam.
COMPLILED BY HIZKEL HAILU
ETHIOPIAN HERALD 19 SEPTEMBER 2021
