BY STAFF REPORTER
Following the peace agreement signed between the government and TPLF in Pretoria, South Africa to end the conflict and sustain peace, the two parties have been implementing several activities which support the accord and that are crucial to build lasting peace in the country in a responsible manner. Particularly, the government, joining hands with partners, has done its level best to address the challenges of the people in war affected areas.
It has exerted energies and is still working aggressively in reconstructing and restoring damaged infrastructure and basic service rendering facilities in war torn areas in order to make them resume services that were interrupted for two or three years. It has also been striving to access and scale up humanitarian supplies, food and nonfood items, including medicine and fuel, to people in need of emergency assistance to end up their sufferings, make the peace agreement a reality there by to sustain peace and stability in the areas.
In response, since the past few months, several public service rendering establishments- health centers, schools, banks, telecom, water and electricity facilities- have already resumed giving services. Not only that, but both air and road transport services to Tigray State have restarted. Today, women, children and elder people in war affected areas are receiving healthcare services; and school children, who were out of schools, are now attending their education. And life in those areas is returning to normal.
However, this does not mean that the reconstruction and rehabilitation activities are fully completed and successfully realized. There are still uncompleted assignments and more challenges due to the magnitude of the problem, and the large number of people displaced from their living areas. For the reason reconstructing and rehabilitating the Tigray State and the surrounding areas and accessing humanitarian needs for those who are in dire need is a challenging task; it cannot be achieved by the efforts merely exerted by the government.
It demands the concerted efforts and cooperation of all-stakeholders, development partners, international humanitarian organizations, the Diaspora community and individual citizens. In fact, including local private and public institutions, the Diaspora community, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UN World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) among others, have been responding positively and facilitating life-saving assistance to help conflict-affected citizens.
Recently, the European Union (EU) expressed its readiness to further strengthen coordination efforts and re-engage in Ethiopia’s, reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation endeavors. In an exclusive interview with the Ethiopian News Agency, the Ambassador of the European Union to Ethiopia, Roland Kobia said that the diplomatic normalization has come after the peace accord was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, to end up the war that took place in the northern part of the country.
According to Kobia, the longstanding relationship with Ethiopia, as one of a few countries which the EU has a strategic engagement with, had gone through challenging times following the conflict. However, following the end of the conflict in the northern part of the country, currently things are returning into normalcy he said, extending his felicitations to Ethiopians for managing the difficult circumstances and resolving the differences peacefully.
Now the EU is ready to take . part and support the Ethiopian government in its reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation efforts in a strengthened manner; mainly in areas where severe destruction has taken place owing to the war, as well as support Ethiopia’s path towards lasting peace, he reiterated.
“And in this new period, we really want to partner with all our member states or our friends to support Ethiopia in order to enable it overcome this difficult, challenging moment.” Amb. Kobia pointed out that Ethiopia has been notably adopting a comprehensive package of reforms that are needed in the country on macro economy, taxes, revenue, and containing inflation, among others Mentioning that the Country has embarked on own homegrown economic reforms, the Ambassador expressed his believe that all these improvements are needed for EU’s support; and will help Ethiopia to recover from the pressing economic situation.
He also stressed the need to have a more organized and efficient assistance system to the recovery of Ethiopia from the European Union and other international development partners. Ethiopia is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) in order to have the recovery package by presenting a number of economic reforms, he stated, adding that this is something that the EU is supporting and; we want Ethiopia to be able to convince the international financial institutions that would help to access those recovery packages as quickly as possible, he said.
“The reason for this is that, first we, as international partners, will be able to help Ethiopia in much better way if there is an IMF plan. The second instance that I can state on the reforms that are needed is having a conducive environment for businesses, not only for foreign businesses, but for Ethiopian businesses as well.”
Moreover, the Ambassador said that, a favorable framework and a good environment which are very crucial for the recovery of the economy, for foreign direct investment and for local investments are created. Ambassador Kobia also revealed European companies keenness to come to Ethiopia and take part in country’s investment potential for the reason the war is over.
“We greatly believe that European companies are ready to come and to invest in Ethiopia. Those who are already here may increase their investment; and others can engage in Ethiopia’s investment opportunities. And for that to happen, we really need to increase cooperation and work together on a wide range of issues,” he pronounced.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 27 MAY 2023
