The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) started agenda-gathering phase in Addis Ababa on Wednesday 29 May 2024. This shows that the National Dialogue Process enters the next phase. During the opening session, ENDC commissioners, scholars call the general public to actively participate in the national dialogue so as to find sustainable solutions for the age-old problems of Ethiopia.
National Dialogue can build stable, strong nation:
Prof. Mesfin Araya, Chief Commissioner, ENDC
Through effective National Dialogue, Ethiopia set to resolve age-old problems of the country. To realize lasting peace and stability in Ethiopia, ensuring the public’s active involvement in national issues is the only way.
Previously, citizens did not have opportunity to consult or decide on national issues. National decisions were left to politicians and elites. The National Dialogue has created a new chapter in enabling people from all walks of life to engage equally and meaningfully through their representatives to decide on critical national issues.
Effective national dialogue would create a transparent political system, develop a new political culture and bring sustainable solutions to the longstanding and contentious issues.
NDC does not give any agendas to citizens: Mahmod Derir, Commissioner of ENDC
ENDC has begun the journey of the national dialogue from Addis Ababa. Ethiopia has decided to discuss on and solve its problems on its own through a peaceful, civilized, comprehensive national dialogue. Different groups from all walks of society will participate and all the people from different groups become involved to present their agendas.
The National Dialogue Commission does not present or give any agendas to citizens. Rather it collects the agendas that the communities initiated through their dialogue. This procedure will continue until these agendas are collected. Then the participants will choose who will present them in the next stage in the national dialogue.
National Dialogue enters critical stage:
ENDC Deputy Chief Commissioner Hirut Gebreselassie
Addis Ababa already started the national dialogue session. The main agenda of the session which runs from 29 May to June 4, 2024 bringing representatives drawn from various segments of the society is agenda gathering phase.
The agenda gathering session in the metropolis started following the completion of necessary preparations. These dialogue sessions will continue in regional states and other city administration as per set plans.
This stage is a critical stage to realize the national dialogue. The ENDC is expecting from Ethiopians to actively participate and contribute their share for the successful conduct of the dialogue processes. The participants who come to this stage will bring agenda ideas through consultation and discussion and organize ideas as common points.
National Dialogue new avenue to solve national problems:
Prof. Ahmed Zakaria
Ethiopia is experimenting with a new avenue to solve its problem through dialogue, discussion, and tolerance (accommodating) each other. The country is big and diverse with enormous experiences, starting from the origins of mankind up until now.
It has lots of experiences. It’s about concocting up our medicine through our experiences. Within communities, there is a lot of wisdom that we are going to share and solve our major national problems for better development, progress, and peace.
Ethiopia would be in a better position to discuss soberly and to identify its problems by next year. Not only identifying problems, through the national dialogue Ethiopia can find medicine to solve its major national problems.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2024
