A high-level dialogue on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Abay river kicked off in Addis Ababa this morning.

Organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), the discussion is underway at the Skylight hotel.

Presidents of universities, religious leaders, representatives of community members and other stakeholders are in attendance of the dialogue.

The event aims to boost public participation on GERD and assist the negotiation on the dam to center national interest.

World-famous Ethiopian athletes have voiced their full support for the realization of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The celebrated athletes Derartu Tulu and Haile Gebresilasie told ENA that the construction of the dam should be enhanced for the welfare of both Ethiopia and the downstream countries.

The first African woman Olympic gold medalist in 10,000 meters race, Derartu Tulu said this is the right time to bring all Ethiopians on board to complete the dam.

She stated that it is now the responsibility of every citizen to work together for the finalization of the project which has been built by the public.

As patriot athletes “we have been actively participating in GERD by helping raise fund and discharging our citizenship responsibility,” Derartu said.

Being “ambassadors of the country, we (athletes) will discharge our responsibility whenever it is necessary in order to ensure respect of our sovereignty,” she stressed.

The Ethiopian distance runner legend noted that there is no word to motivate Ethiopians, except saying come together to realize the dam.

The other prominent athlete, Haile Gebresilassie said supporting realization of the dam, which is a symbol of national pride, is not something you volunteer but mandatory to this generation.

Everybody has a responsibility to contribute their share in whatever way possible, and that would enable the nation to finalize the dam on schedule, he added.

“All Ethiopians and Ethiopian origin living abroad should need to be joining hand in hand to finalize the national flagship project to utilize it as a tool of alleviating poverty.”

The retired athlete further noted that the media should also play their roles in promoting the participation of the public in raising funds for the GERD.

“We need to stand together and exert maximum effort by avoiding differences so that we can reach our long cherished goal,” he stated.

Haile Gebresilasie, who is one of the greatest runners in history, further said Ethiopia is building the dam to extricate the poor from poverty without causing significant harm to the downstream countries.

Riparian countries should, therefore, cooperate with such initiatives so that they can also enjoy the benefits from the dam, the athlete explained.

Ethiopians at home and abroad have purchased Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) bond worth over 397 million Birr over the last six months.

Like Derartu Tulu and Haile Gebresilasie, many Ethiopians and Ethiopian Diaspora are pledging unreserved support for the finalization of GERD.

Unique to Ethiopia, the details and care taken in creating Unity Park is a process symbolic of Medemer. 198 animals of 35 different species varieties, the new zoo and aquarium within the park is designed to enable our children and urbanites to experience wildlife and marine life without going far out of the city.

The people and Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia learned with shock and dismay about the incident targeting His Excellency Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia notes with dismay the “Resolution” of the Executive Council of the Arab League concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issued on 05 March 2020. Ethiopia rejects the “Resolution” in its entirety. This “Resolution” gives blind support to a member state without taking into consideration key facts at the center of the GERD talks.

Ethiopia, however, commends the stance taken by the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for refusing to endorse the “Resolution” of the Arab League. Sudan has once again demonstrated its position of being a voice of reason and justice in the latest orchestrated so-called “Arab League position” on the GERD. Ethiopia expresses its profound appreciation to Sudan’s principled position that helps advance win-win solutions for all the parties involved, through a commitment to open dialogue.

Ethiopia’s relations with the peoples’ and governments of member states of the Arab League are longstanding based on common values, deep rooted cultural ties and traditions. The relationship demonstrated the power of justice in the face of adversity, sanctuary in the face of persecution, cooperation at the time of need, and friendly relations during alienation. As an institution composed of sovereign countries, the League is expected to follow an approach that allows an accurate representation of facts and balances all interests involved. When acting contrary to this norm, the credibility of the League and its ability to promote peace, stability, and cooperation in the increasingly globalized world is at risk.

Ethiopia reiterates its longstanding and firm position as expressed by successive governments that it “has the right to use its Nile water resources to meet the needs of the present and future generations.” As the Nile is a transboundary water resource Ethiopia is committed to the principles of equitable and reasonable use, not causing significant harm and that of cooperation. We firmly believe that through continued open and transparent dialogue there is great potential to arrive at an amicable solution. Hegemonic posturing is unproductive and need not have a place in our interdependent global order.

Ethiopia is also firmly committed to the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles (DoP) which provides the basis for the first filling and annual operation of the GERD. The DoP provides that first filling will be done in parallel with the construction of the GERD.

Finally, Ethiopia is confident that the Arab League will live up to the standard of objectivity and the longstanding relations and common values in its engagements with Ethiopia. We look forward to a strengthened partnership and to work closely on common goals.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia has won the ‘Best Destination-Archaeology and Ancient History’ award.

The Ministry received the award from the Pacific Travel Writers Association Awards (PATWA) at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany.

Moreover, Ethiopia’s Minister of Culture, Dr Hirut Kassaw, has won the ‘Best Tourism Minister’ award.

The PATWA International Travel Awards are handed out once a year in March at ITB Berlin, the world’s biggest travel and trade fair.

The awards recognise individuals and organisations that are involved in the promotion of tourism and other service providers related to the industry.

H.E. Ambassador Grum Abay delivered a public lecture entitled “Ethiopia’s Socio-Economic Development and Peace: A Mutually Reinforcing Process?’’   at the KU Leuven, today the 5^th of March 2020.

In his lecture, Ambassador Grum extensively discussed the socio-political and economic paths through which Ethiopia has passed in its long history of statehood as well as the current political, social as well as economic reforms that the country has been going through in the past two years.

The lecture was opened with an introductory remark by Professor Peter Lievens, Vice Rector of International Policy at the University of KU-Leuven. Professor Lievens praised the existing academic cooperation between the University of KU-Leuven and various higher educational institutes in Ethiopia and expressed the University’s interest to further strengthen the cooperation.

Furthermore, Professor Karen Vancanpen Hout, who has been engaged in various research and partnership programs in Ethiopia for over a decade, presented the research that she has been working on in Northern Ethiopia regarding soil degradation and conservation.

The public lecture was attended by Academic heads of the University, Professors as well as students of the University.

Scientists have discovered nearly completed hominin cranium and a partial cranium in Ethiopia that date back 1.5 million and 1.26 million years, respectively.

The crania were discovered from the Gona study area, in Afar region, by Dr. Sileshi Semaw, Senior Research Scientist from CCENNIEH (Burgos, Spain), Prof M. Rogers from SCSU (Connecticut, USA) and their research team.

Both crania, assigned to Homo erectus, were associated with both simple Oldowan-type and more complex, Acheulian stone tool assemblages.

Gona is located in the Afar triangle of Ethiopia, adjacent to the well-known Middle Awash and Hadar study areas where the famous skeleton ‘Ardi’ and ‘Lucy’ were discovered, respectively.

According to a statement Authority of Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage sent to FBC, the research team has been investigating the Gona deposit since 1999.