BY MESERET BEHAILU
GONDAR – University of Gondar (UoG) disclosed yesterday that public diplomacy would play a vital role in getting Ethiopia relieved from various stresses as it has been baffled by internal and external pressures against its national interest.
Opening the program under the theme “Nile signing (chorus) Graduation and Public Diplomacy and International study Center Initiative,” UoG President Asrat Atsedeweyn (PhD) said that Ethiopia seeks fruitful public diplomacy to relieve internal and external pressures.
According to the president, the internal and external pressures during the last four decades have claimed many lives, displaced thousands of citizens as well as immeasurable public and private properties are damaged.
He further stated that Ethiopia has little public diplomacy performance compared with that of the developed countries as every individual has not been well responsible for the national interest of the country. Therefore, every Ethiopian should be responsible for their nation.
As witnessed over the last few months, Ethiopians, Ethiopian origins, friends of Ethiopia have fought against the terrorist TPLF which has committed crimes against humanity and the unfair external pressures through movements like #NoMore and Ethiopia shall prevail.
However, universities so far have not made adequate contributions in relation to public diplomacy and now should take the lion’s share in inspiring citizens to become public diplomats through providing research based solutions.
“Promoting art, supporting the tourism sector, developing the cultural conflict management system, and the likes are expected of higher learning institutions,” the president added. UoG has been providing the government and the community with research based solutions to the problems.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Ambassador Dina Mufti on his part said that UoG has been playing a significant role in providing research based solutions to the Gondar community and the government. That is why it has become one of the research institutions in Ethiopia.
As to Ambassador Dina, UoG has been exerting utmost efforts in producing qualified and competent citizens apart from sharing the burden of the community over the last five decades. Particularly, he said, closely working with such a telling research institution is timely as Ethiopia has been facing different challenges.
Ambassador also stressed that every Ethiopians should be responsible for fighting against misinformation that inks Ethiopia black.
The Ethiopian Herald April 8/2022
