BY STAFF REPORTER
The peace deal signed some months ago in Pretoria, South Africa, has changed a lot of things, and a number of positive developments are seen. Aside from winding up the two-year-long conflict, building a solid foundation for peace, and allowing immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access to the people who were in dire need, the agreement has restored life to normalcy in the areas, including the Afar and Amhara states.
Equally important, the accord has enabled the reconstruction and refurbishment of damaged facilities and infrastructure and the reinstatement of basic services such as healthcare, electricity and telecommunications, banking, and transportation, both road and air. These days, educational institutions that were closed for more than two years (due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and then the war) are now open, and students are attending their education.
Commercial activities have been retrieved and traveling from Addis Ababa to Mekelle and from Mekelle to Addis Ababa via air or road transport has become a day-to-day activity. The state has also reopened its doors for tourists. As it was stated recently by State’s Tourism and Culture Bureau, including the world-famous Aksum Obelisk, the tangible and intangible heritages that are found in the town and its surroundings are now reopened for visitors, which yield many more opportunities not only for the localities, but also for the State and the country.
Lately, a delegation led by Tigray State Interim Chief Administrator Getachew Reda paid a visit to Bahir Dar City, Amhara State and discussed issues, mainly peace and reconciliation matters and ways to further strengthen ties between the people of the two states with administrators of Amhara State and representatives of the people.
Following this visit carried out for the first time after close to two or three years, some residents of Mekelle told ENA that the talks that have begun with high ranking officials will help to speed up the people-to-people relations between the two states. They also said that the good relations started by the officials of the two states should be strengthened because it would contribute significantly to making the peace agreement a reality and ensuring peace and development.
According to Beyene Yilma, a resident of Mekelle, reinforcing good relations between the Amhara and Tigray states will allow problems to be resolved through dialogue. Further, it is instrumental in ensuring peace and security for the people of Ethiopia. Stating the move’s irreplaceable role in terms of building lasting peace and security, supporting longer-term growth and development for the people of Ethiopia, and cementing people-to-people ties, Beyene said that for these reasons, he supports the initiation.
Kidan Araya, a teacher, expressed her belief that the relationships started between the high level officials of the two states and the representatives of the people will help to strengthen the peace agreement. “The relationships that have started now will allow us to resolve our differences, cooperate, and work together for the common good of all of us,” she remarked. She also appreciated the strides that the leaders of the two states have taken to put an end to past adversities and start new activities for the sake of their respective people.
Kassa Yared, a religious father, is the other resident of Mekelle City. Appreciating the activity, he urged all to support the undertakings carried out by officials of the two states. “Each and every one should do their part and discharge their responsibilities to advance the good relationship that the heads of the two states have started to a higher level.”
He further said that in order to alleviate the psychological, social, and economic pressures on the people caused by the conflict, the relations commenced now should be reinforced and supported by all. Meanwhile, at the discussion, administrators of the two states confirmed their commitment and readiness to work to strengthen relations between the peoples of the Amhara and Tigray states and resolve differences in a peaceful manner, through dialogue, as the Amhara State Communication Bureau reported.
Speaking at the event, Tigray State Interim Chief Administrator Getachew Reda said: “owing to the political commitment and determination to end the war and following the Pretoria Agreement, the chapter of war is closed. People-to-people relations have also started. Through underpinning this, we will work for the peace of the people and to strengthen the previous togetherness.”
Mentioning the costs—human deaths, injuries, and displacements—caused by the war, Getachew said: “We are working to bring peace for the people, beyond regretting for the damage that has been done. This is one instance that testifies to the efforts.” Amhara State Chief Administrator Yilikal Kefale (PhD) also noted that the people of Tigray are brothers to the Amhara people.
The needs of the Amhara people cannot be met without peace. The people of Amhara are ready to sustain the peace that has been started. Participants in the discussion also raised questions that they think are crucial to restoring togetherness and cooperation to their previous state; upholding the building of lasting peace, and resuming transport and trade relations.
The officials, who said that the chapter of peace has now opened, also stated that they would resume trade, transportation, and similar other services shortly. It is recalled that prior to his trip to Bahir Dar, Getachew also met with the mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie in Mekelle and received over 510 million birr worth of support that businesses and residents contributed for rehabilitation work in Tigray State.
The Mayor said the city of Addis Ababa will contribute its part to restoring conflict-damaged infrastructure in Mekelle City and other parts of the State. She also pledged to provide the required support to the people affected by the conflict while backing the rehabilitation process.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 17 JUNE 2023
