Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, met with Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in New York.
During the meeting Demeke said some of the observed gaps in the humanitarian aid process in the northern part of Ethiopia should be addressed soon and in a coordinated way that considers the needs of vulnerable people living adjacent to the Tigray region.
Being thankful for UNOCHA for its support to the government in understanding the current situation in the country, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister further called on UNOCHA to strengthen its efforts to make all-inclusive humanitarian aid that is accessible to affected people.
The two sides noted that the government’s efforts to create conducive environment for humanitarian aid showed significant improvements in the aid delivery process.
The Secretary-General and the Deputy Prime Minister discussed the internal situation in Ethiopia, particularly in Tigray. The Secretary-General reiterated his call for steps towards peace and noted the need for the further facilitation of humanitarian access.
Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the Secretary-General underlined the importance of resuming dialogue in a spirit of compromise and reaffirmed the United Nations’ support for the African Union’s mediation efforts.
Similarly H.E. Demeke Mekonnen as also met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defense of Ireland, Simon Coveney, in New York this week.
Demeke said the misinformation and disinformation campaigns launched against Ethiopia following the unwarranted TPLF attack on the ENDF are the sources of misunderstandings and the improper and unbalanced view on the situation in Ethiopia.
In their efforts to understand the current situation in Ethiopia, the international community should never forget the destructive acts of the TPLF that created havoc in various parts of the country during its stay in power.
He also underscored that the international community should not fail to understand the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia to protect the safety of its citizens, rule of law, and the sovereignty of the country.
He said the international community should not make decisions based on unsubstantiated allegations, which would endanger longstanding relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister appreciated the concerns of the Government of Ireland to the situation in Ethiopia, adding that Ireland would further make efforts to better understand the reality on the ground.
Ambassador Nebil confers with higher officials of the Republic of South Sudan
H.E. Ambassador Nebil Mahdi conveyed the congratulatory message of Tagesse Chaffo, the Speaker of the Ethiopian House of Peoples Representatives, addressed to the new Speaker of the Transitional Parliament of South Sudan, Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba.
During the discussion, Ambassador Nebil reiterated the firm commitment of Ethiopia to scaling up its longstanding relationships with South Sudan.
He also underscored the need to create cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.
Ambassador Nebil also spoke on the current situations in Ethiopia, including the Ethiopia-Sudan border conflict and the GERD issue.
Speaking on the GERD, Ambassador Nebil expressed his belief that the Transitional Parliament would soon ratify the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA).
Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba said Ethiopia has always been a refuge to South Sudanese people during troubling times. South Sudan is keen to cement its fraternal ties with Ethiopia, she added.
She said the tripartite should solve their differences over the GERD file through dialogue, adding that South Sudan believes in the equitable utilization of the Nile River. The two Deputy Speakers of the Transitional Parliament have also attended the occasion.
The Ambassador also met Hon. Michael Makuei, Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services Minister of the Republic of South Sudan this week.
During the occasion, the ambassador expressed his appreciation of H.E. President Salva Kiir’s concern for the peace and stability of Ethiopia and his initiative to play a mediator role on the Ethio-Sudan border dispute as well as on internal issues.
Mentioning Ethiopia’s supports to South Sudan throughout its quest for independence as well as now especially in the fields of capacity building, he emphasized that the two countries need to be connected through infrastructures like roads and power utilities.
With regard to Nile water, the ambassador stated that the River Nile is for all the 11 riparian states to use and with existing electric power shortage over the Eastern Africa region, he stressed on the necessity of interconnecting the countries in the region through power grids from the GERD.
Speaking about the conflict in Tigray Region, he briefed the Honorable Minister how the TPLF rejected Prime Minister Abiy’s consecutive pleas for a national consensus and be part of the reform, and later on how it attacked the Northern command of the Ethiopian National Defense Force.
H.E. Amb. Nebil also explained to the Minister that due to the grave and heinous human rights violations the group committed, the Ethiopian parliament designated the TPLF as the terrorist group, and that the terror group is still engaged in massacring hundreds, and displacing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, looting properties and destroying public infrastructures in the Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia.
He also pointed out that the TPLF group is regionalizing its terrorist activities by creating links to other destructive forces in the East African region.
The Hon. Minister, on his part conquered that Ethiopia’s support to South Sudanese have been consistent and the people of both Countries have been enjoying good relations since time immemorial. He also indicated that the two countries’ relations will not be affected by any changes.
Appreciating Ethiopia’s genuine support in the South Sudanese peace agreement, as well as in capacity building and others, the minister underscored that his country does not allow its territory, land or air, to be used against Ethiopia.
Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s (GERD) negotiations, he said that while people are being affected by and dying from devastating floods, it is not fair and it is contradiction, amidst this, to complain that there would be water shortage during the filling of the Dam.
Emphasizing that the GERD guarantees the regular flow of water throughout the year to the lower riparian states, he said all of the riparian countries have the right to use the water.
With regard to peace and security in Ethiopia, he said that others don’t have the mandate to dictate the country what to do. It is the duty of Ethiopians to determine their affairs, he added.
Ambassador Teferi Melesse meets Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Africa Minister, Vicky Ford
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Ambassador Teferi Melesse has a constructive meeting with the newly-appointed Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Africa Minister, Vicky Ford, on various issues.
He briefed her on developments in Ethiopia, including the situation in Tigray, democratization and elections, progress of homegrown economic reforms, the green legacy initiative, and more.
While thanking the UK government for its continued cooperation, he pressed for the need to scale up humanitarian support and assistance.
He also assured her that once the new government is formed in October, a nation-wide inclusive dialogue will be undertaken to build national consensus and advance reforms.
The Ethiopian Herald September 26/2021
