• Ethiopia elected as World Heritage Committee member
ADDIS ABABA – The Executive Council of African Union has adopted a $USD120 billion budget for 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed.
In connection with the 12th urgent Representative Meeting and 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council AU underway in Niger capital Niamey, FDRE State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirut Zemene told journalists here yesterday that AU is on the way of reforms and different activities were underway.
In a meeting chaired by FDRE Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedu Andargachew, Ministers of Finance, as well as Foreign Affairs of member states, discussed the budget for the upcoming year, she said.
Hirut said that most of the cost activities of 2020 were covered by the member states. In line with $USD32 million was saved. The union is doing its level best to be independent, she added.
On a broader level, the African Union meeting in Niamey is considering other issues under the institutional reform program that will allow the Union to achieve the vision and goals of its Agenda 2063 development framework.
Additionally, the union founded Peace Fund to ensure peace and security in the continent and Ethiopia is a member of the fund. She added that US$120 million out of the expected US$400 million in 2021 for the Peace Fund has so far been received and Ethiopia is playing its part. The fund will come into force in 2021. Besides, Ethiopia is a member of F15 Finance Minister Group she added.
In the past couple of years, Ethiopia played its part in providing service and cooperation for the diplomats residing in the country as the seat of the union. Besides, Ethiopia is selected as the seat of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee Council member at Africa level and the issue is referred to Paris Ambassador said.
Being a member of this world heritage committee benefits us more in protecting our heritage from the damage she said. Besides, being a member of the committee will help us to follow up and to keep our heritage sites safe especially in such cases as the current status of Axum obelisk and Lalibela church easily, Hirut said.
The Ethiopian Herald, July 13/2019
BY HAILE DEMEKE
