ADDIS ABABA – The United Arab Emirates Embassy in Addis Ababa yesterday hosted an experience sharing event with three Ethiopian churches on promoting tolerance and building cosmopolitan society.
As home to more than 200 nationalities representing a variety of religions, ethnicities and cultures, UAE has named 2019 ‘Year of Tolerance’ to promote religious, cultural and political tolerance around the world.
Speaking on the occasion, Head of the Ethiopian Catholic Church, His Eminence Cardinal Berhane Yesus Souraphiel said that Ethiopia has an age-long history of accommodating people of various religions that was manifested by welcoming Companions of Prophet Muhammad in the first Hijra.
The Cardinal stated that Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed established a National Reconciliation Commission in a bid to promote love, tolerance, mutual coexistence and multiculturalism in the country. The success witnessed in the Green Legacy initiative also manifests the unison of people of Ethiopia for common goal.
Arch Bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission, His Grace Abune Samuel said that UAE’s founding father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan made an exemplary decision to allow Ethiopian Christians living in the Emirates to have their own church.
Noting the Orthodox Church’s age-long history of promoting tolerance, the Archbishop reaffirmed his Church’s readiness to support UAE’s initiative in the Year of Tolerance and maintain its engagement in teaching the faithful to embrace differences.
By the same token, Director of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Eyesus Children and Youth Department, Tsegahun Assefa noted that the Church has been hugely engaged in teaching the laity to exercises civility and open-mildness and treat others as themselves.
“Tolerance is the element that keeps us living in harmony and we should work together as human being for the betterment of all,” he remarked.
Director of Peace and Tolerance with Ministry of Peace, Mohammed Dube pointed out that the government has been closely working with religious institutions to ensure a tolerant culture and build society that acknowledge and appreciate diversity.
The Director called on religious fathers to maintain their constructive role in ensuring tolerance and allied with the government in peace, development and good governance endeavors thereby supplementing the success of the reform agenda.
The Ethiopian Herald August 7/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
