H.E. Mr. Demeke Mekonnen Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia made remarks on Thursday (March 18) at the ministerial meeting of the AUSPC on Peacekeeping in Africa: Emerging challenges and critical lessons for sustainable Peacekeeping operations. Please find his full speech below:

Madam Chairperson,
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I would like to begin by congratulating you on your assumption of the AU-PSC Ministerial Chair, and thank you for organizing this high level discussion. It is an issue of great importance to our continent and African Troop and Police Contributing Countries. I thank all the briefers.

Let me also express our appreciation to all the peacekeepers and their support staff that are making the ultimate sacrifices to bring peace to our continent. We also wish to pay tribute and send sympathies to the families of those gallant service men and women fallen in the line of duty.

Madam Chairperson,
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We all agree that one of the main foundations for the inception of multilateralism, particularly, formation of the United Nations in 1945 rested on maintenance of peace and security in the world. Although, the primary responsibility of ensuring peace and security was a mandate of the United Nations Security Council, Regional Mechanisms under the principles of subsidiarity have brought enormous effectiveness in addressing concerns of peace and stability, especially in Africa.

However, all Member States of the United Nations don’t have equal say on the modalities of bring peace and security, basically because of variation in their resource contributions. Troop Contributing Countries from our side of the world are paying the heaviest price in life and blood. However, as a matter of fact the capability of financing Peacekeeping Missions and Peace Support Operations seems to outweigh all other contributions including sacrifices in human lives. In this regard, I agree with speakers before me on the need for judicious appreciation of Africa’s contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security.

Madam Chairperson,
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The longstanding UN peacekeeping practices have increasingly become incompatible with the current dynamics of global peace operations, which are exposing personnel on the ground to asymmetric and direct armed attacks. Our troops in peacekeeping missions are expected to do more and more with less and less enablers; including shortage of critical supplies, poor logistics and inadequate financing. Addressing these concerns is particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I trust that it is time for the international system to recognize that since the first ever deployment of UN peacekeeping operation, the role and responsibility of peacekeepers have kept evolving much faster. Changes in role from observing ceasefires through military presence and the separation of combating forces; to participation of all rounded military, police, observers of all sorts etc. is growing.
In the context of these evolving realities, I wish to highlight the following as a unified message from our continent:

1. The process of the United Nations policy formulation and planning, as well as preparation of operational guidelines and training schemes for peacekeeping missions in Africa must be participatory, where the AUPSC and the AU Commission would contribute from their informed perspectives about facts on the ground.

2. The need for robust capability and better or rapid intervention, in the face of challenges including attacks from Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and direct confrontation with armed elements requires stronger coordination amongst African Troop Contributing Countries within the continent, the United Nations and possible bilateral or regional cooperation mechanisms.

3. Ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in peace operations must be prioritized. It is important that special attributes of women peacekeepers must be unleashed at all levels. For instance concerns with respect to the primary responsibility of Troop Contributing Countries in handling allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse by personnel on the ground would be handled with the requisite sensitivity by women peacekeepers.

4. Peacekeeping missions cannot leave positive legacy behind or complete their tasks without implementing adequate peace building work. In this regard, adoption of the United Nations 2020 Peace building Architecture and the commitment by AU-led peace operations for successful peace building work would yield more productive outcomes. Africa needs to promote the importance of providing institutional capacity building through peace building programs.
Madam Chairperson,

I wish to conclude by underscoring the significance of promoting African Common Position in resolving the challenges faced by Peacekeeping Missions in our continent. These Missions are operating under increasingly complex environment. It is also essential that the African Union, the United Nations, and Troop Contributing Countries undertake continuous consultations to harmonize their views and ensure fair participation at all levels of mandate preparation, renewal and implementation.

I thank you.

#MoFA

H.E. Hirut Zemene, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Luxembourg and EU institutions, met with H.E. Mikael Lindvall, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union Political and Security Committee on the 18th of March 2021.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the current security, political and humanitarian situation in the #Tigray region of Ethiopia, upcoming national election and the need to step up humanitarian assistance with the unfettered access in place.

They also agreed to further exchange information on various issues of common concern.

On March 17, 2021, H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene held a fruitful exchange of views with Hon. Norbert NEUSER, Member of Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the #EuropeanParliament and Vice chair of the Development Committee, on the current situation in #Ethiopia.

Ambassador Hirut briefed Honorable Neuser, among others, about current developments in Ethiopia including efforts underway to address the humanitarian situation in #Tigray and other parts of the country as well as steps taken to enhance the reform process including the upcoming #election.

They also agreed to further exchange information on various issues of common concern.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, said completing GERD project is a matter of ensuring the sovereignty of the country.

Demeke, who is also Chairperson of the National Council on the Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) made the remark at a symposium organized in connection with the 10th anniversary of commencement of the dam.

Water experts, scholars drawn from higher education institutions and other officials are in attendance of the event organized by the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy.

“Developing the Abay River and completing the dam go beyond working for the future generation. It is a matter of ensuring the sovereign of the country,” Demeke told the participants.

Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr Seleshi Bekele, for his part briefed the participants on the progress of the hydropower project being built in Benishangul Gumuz regional state.

The project has now reached 79% and the second phase of filling the dam will start in the coming rainy season, the Minister said.

#FBC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti, gave the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing today (16 March 2021) to the media. In his presentation, the Ambassador focused on political diplomacy, economic diplomacy and citizen-centered diplomacy, including capacity building activities.

I. #Political Diplomacy

• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, H.E.DemekeMekonnenon Thursday (March 11) met with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to discuss the modalities of engagement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) in the investigation of alleged human rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The principle of the investigation was proposed by Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, during a Summit-level meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council held on 9 March 2021. Mr. Demekeappreciated the AU’s initiative to accept Ethiopia’s invitation for a joint investigation on alleged atrocities committed in the region. The Chairperson of the Commission welcomed the readiness of the Ethiopian Government to cooperate with the African Union’s Treaty Body. The Chairperson expressed his appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for its openness to engage with the African Union and stated his confidence that the ACHPR will deliver on this important task.

• H.E. DemekeMekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia met on Tuesday (March 9) with South Sudan’s President, SalvaKiirMayardit at his residence in Juba. They pledged to scale up relationships between the two countries by expanding vital engagements and noted the importance of scaling up cooperation on Regional Stability and Capacity Building schemes. The two sides further noted the role of the successful completion of the law enforcement operation in the Tigray region to regional peace and underscored the only viable way to solve the Ethiopia-Sudan border issue is dialogue.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. DemekeMekonnen exchanged a phone call with H.E. PekkaHaavisto, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland on Friday (March 12).The two sides discussed the situation in the Tigray region and the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, including the negotiations over the GERD. Humanitarian situation, rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts and the recent talks with the African Union to hold joint investigations on allegations of ethnic cleansing were the points discussed regarding Tigray. Regarding the GERD the two have discussed that the tripartite need to resume dialogue to reach amicable solutions. Discussing the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, Mr. Demeke underlined that the two countries can solve the problem through dialogue by employing existing mechanisms.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, DemekeMekonnen welcomed to his office Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, EvgenyTerekhin on Wednesday (March 10) to discuss issues of mutual concern. Speaking about the investigations on alleged atrocities committed in Tigray, Demeke reiterated Ethiopia’s stance that was reflected in the recently delivered statement of H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the African Union Peace and Security Council on the Current Situation in Northern Ethiopia. In this regard, he said, Ethiopia has expressed its will to openly engage the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in undertaking investigations jointly with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, adding that the government has also signaled its willingness to collaborate with relevant UN agencies for these investigations.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia H.E. DemekeMekonnen met at his office and held a one-to-one discussion with the Ambassadors of South Korea and Japan to Ethiopia on Friday (March 12). Discussing with H.E. Ambassador Kang Seok-hee of the Republic of Korea, the Deputy Prime Minister appreciated South Korea’s supports in times of critical needs.South Korea’s support in providing pharmaceutical equipment and sharing its experience to help Ethiopia fight the COVID19 pandemic is very much appreciated by the people and government of Ethiopia, he added. He also thanked the development support programs of the government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Ethiopia.He also briefed the Ambassador on the ongoing massive humanitarian undertakings of the government in the Tigray region, including other developments.

• DemekeMekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia conferred on Thursday (March 11) with Mohamed Salem OuldSalek, Foreign Minister and Special Envoy of the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. They discussed issues of common concerns and Ethiopia’s role in the peaceful solution to the problem of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Demeke assured that Ethiopia has always been consistent in its support for a fair, just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution consistent with the principles and purposes of the AU Constitutive Act and the UN Charter. Ethiopia will stand with and support the position of the role of the African Union in the peace process under the auspices of the UN and ready to contribute its share, he added.

• About 40 resident ambassadors and diplomats in Addis Ababa paid a visit to Mekelle city on Wednesday (March 10). Dr. MuluNega, Chief Executive of the Interim Administration of Tigray and colleagues briefed the ambassadors about current situations in Tigray, particularly on the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts as well as security issues in the region. Challenges and results achieved in rebuilding damaged infrastructures, reopening public service institutions, rehabilitating IDPs, and delivering humanitarian supports were discussed in detail.

• Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, H.E. Taye Atske Selassie held a bilateral discussion with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of US. Representative to the United Nations. The two discussed the humanitarian situation in Tigray and other regional and international matters of mutual concern. They agreed to reinforce working relations between the two missions.

• Ethiopian Ambassador to Sudan, H.E. Yibeltal Aemero gave a press briefing to local and international media outlets in Sudan today (March 10) regarding the current situation in the Tigray region. He said the embassy prepared the briefing as it is important for the brotherly people of Sudan to have accurate and up-to-date information on the situation in Ethiopia. In his briefing, Ambassador Yibeltal spoke about the atrocities committed by the TPLF against the Ethiopian people since its inception, the horrific attacks on the national defense forces, the genocide in Maikadra, the efforts to bring criminals to justice in the region.

• Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Ambassador Alemtshay Meseret met and held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, H.E. Sam Kahamba Kutesa on Thursday (March 11). During their discussion, the two sides noted the ever-increasing Ethiopia-Uganda relations in multifaceted sectors. They have also exchanged views on the ongoing humanitarian efforts in Tigray, the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, and the tripartite negotiations over the GERD.

II. #Economic Diplomacy

• Ethiopia’s Consulate in Shanghai and “International Tourism Group” in China has organized an online panel aiming to increase the flow of Chinese tourists to Ethiopia. Speaking on the occasion, the Director-General of Tourism Ethiopia said that the Chinese government has made Ethiopia one of the few African countries on the list of Approved Tourist Destination for Chinese tourists, which is one of the few African countries registered in the list.

III. #CitizenCentered Diplomacy

• The Ministry has paid its condolences to people who have lost their lives in the recent incident in Yemen’s prison. 43 are buried in Yemen but investigation is underway to identify how many of them are Ethiopians. About mid day today we are expecting to receive 150 people who are repatriated from Yemen.

• Ethiopians in the U.S., Canada and Europe and other cities in the West have staged demonstrations aiming to affirm facts on what is going on in Ethiopia right now. H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia appreciated all people who have organized and participated in the rallies standing for Truth, Justice and Sovereignty over internal affairs.

• A total of 888 returnees from Riyadh and Jeddah were repatriated over the week.

IV. #Capacity Building

• Young diplomats of the Ministry have been given training on digital diplomacy themed under, “Digital Diplomacy in Action”.

#MoFA

 

First of all, we would like to express our thanks and appreciation to the editor of the #EUobserver for publishing our letter titled ‘#Ethiopia right of reply’, dated 01 March 2021. In what would seem a response to our letter in reply, we have come across with an article issued on the EUobserver under the title “Ethiopia: Time to tell the truth, Ambassador” dated 09 March 2021.

This latest article we believe, need not be a response to our “letter to the editor” but could have been a stand-alone report of the media outlet on the latest developments in the #Tigray region of #Ethiopia. While the efforts made by the writer to bring in the opinions and arguments from different sides could be appreciated, but unfortunately, the writer attempts to support his points of view by quoting inappropriate information sources. Thus, the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels would like to bring to light elements of the article that are framed in an overly sensational manner and bound to confuse and mislead the esteemed readership.

It is regrettable the writer has chosen defamatory language used across the article, such as “fog of lies”, “half-truths” and “government’s campaign of nonsense”, without verifying what is happening on the ground as the media professional standards would require.

The information sources mentioned to counter the statements made by the Government of Ethiopia tend not to be the relevant sources. For example, the writer dared to call the 3.5 million humanitarian assistance provided as one of the points of ‘gross fallacies’ and goes to refute this data by quoting anonymous sources.

In this regard, the latest report from the relevant government agency indicates that the humanitarian assistance distributed for several months exceeds 84, 000 metric tons, reaching 4.1 million people in the region. This is an achievement that speaks for itself as it has enabled to abate the imminent food supply shortage and helped to save the life of our compatriots in the Tigray region. All Ethiopians are united in helping our compatriots in Tigray and the effort will continue in collaboration with our international partners.

It is not clear to us why the article turns blind eyes about the positive developments that concern the Government of Ethiopia’s decision to provide unfettered access to humanitarian organizations. It is a verifiable fact that The Government of Ethiopia has taken measures for an independent investigation of alleged human rights violations and has also expressed its readiness to collaborate with relevant AU& UN agencies in this regard. It is not clear what motivated the writer to chose the defamatory language against Ethiopia without proof.

We would like to draw the attention of the writer to the evident truth that it is the sacred duty of the Government of Ethiopia to protect the territorial integrity of Ethiopia and the unity of its people. The Government of Ethiopia has the full sovereign power and duty for safeguarding rule of law within its borders and that is what the Government has been doing in its Tigray Region. Now the stabilization of the Tigray region of Ethiopia is underway; the humanitarian assistance is reaching more people than what we could in the immediate aftermath of the law enforcement operation. Many international partners are helping alongside our people. We will continue doing what is good for our people. And the progress can be verified on the ground.

Therefore, the Embassy appeals to the media outlet to promote objective journalism and civil conversation at the level that the situation merits.

Public Diplomacy Section
Embassy of Ethiopia, Brussels

 

 

March 9, 2021
Statement delivered under Any Other Business (AOB)

Thank You Mr. Chairperson for giving me the floor to provide a briefing on the current situation in Ethiopia.
Excellencies, since April 2018, Ethiopia has been undertaking an unprecedented wave of reforms towards the realization of a true democracy. The three decades preceding my administration were tainted with state capture by a minority clique.
To maintain power and control, the TPLF pitted ethnic groups against one another, fueling resentment, mistrust and animosity, while utilizing state power to suppress any form of dissent.
The period 2016-2018 was a clear demonstration of the Ethiopian people’s unity in saying enough to TPLF’s systematic oppression.
The deep political, economic and social reforms initiated by my administration since 2018 have been rooted in the demands and needs of the Ethiopian people. And undertaking such reforms in a period of transition is not an easy feat.
Ethiopia still continues to be in a transitional phase as my administration, together with the Ethiopian people, work to rebuild our institutions in a manner that reflects our diversity.
Unfortunately, the TPLF rejected all reforms introduced from the beginning of the new administration’s tenure. They utilized the networks and systems they had established over three decades to undermine efforts being made.
As my administration intensified the work to build democratic institutions; to exercise primacy of human rights; and to undertake tasks aimed at untapping potential for national prosperity, the TPLF embarked on a wave of overt and covert operations to make Ethiopia ungovernable.
The Ethiopian people’s quest for equity across all protected categories and the efforts to realize this were considered unacceptable by TPLF. As the architects of ethnic and religious divisions, together with their agents of destruction, they began to apply pressure on the fault lines they were responsible for forming in the past three decades. Their final aim was to deceitfully portray to the local and international community that they were better for Ethiopia.
Behind closed doors as well as in public appeals, my administration made numerous efforts to calm the belligerence. Continuous provocations were thwarted in attempts to enable dialogue and find a third way. As the TPLF’s orchestrated attacks on innocent civilians throughout the country intensified, public pressure mounted for a response.
Nevertheless, my administration continued to appease our people, pointing the direction instead towards dialogue as a means of settling any issues. We sent national elders to Mekelle and facilitated dialogue platforms to take place in Addis Ababa– which were all rebuffed by the TPLF.
Beyond the domestic terrorism TPLF cultivated over the past three years, they also vowed to utilize their existing networks to destabilize the Horn region, in attempts to undermine regional integration.
Following the unconstitutional election that the TPLF staged in the Tigray region, they began to mobilize the irregular militia and special forces. Public gatherings in the region called by the criminal clique evoked an impending war and unleashed propaganda upon the innocent people of Tigray to prepare for war.
Here again, our people cautioned against the belligerence and pushed for intervention, yet the Federal Government continued to resist the pressure to take premature measures.
Excellencies,

The straw that broke the camel’s back arrived on November 4, 2020 when the Northern Command of the Ethiopian Defense Forces, stationed in Tigray Region for two decades, was attacked by the TPLF, with the intention to rob military equipment and other military assets.
The deliberate and heinous attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, is a crime of high treason under the Constitution and the laws of the land.
With a mandate from the House of People’s Representatives to intervene, the Provisional Administration of Tigray was put in place, while the National Defense Forces were given the instruction to protect and defend the Constitutional order.
In the first two weeks, the TPLF unleashed missiles on Bahir Dar and Gonder cities in the Amhara region. They undertook massive infrastructure damages, including to telecom and electricity assets as well as roads. They released more than 10,000 prisoners from correctional facilities, to make the region ungovernable.
They committed atrocious crimes against humanity in Maikadra and utilizing the resources they plundered through corruption from the country, hired lobbyists internationally in attempts to convince the international community that they as a criminal clique were the victim.
Excellencies,

The main objective of the rule of law measures undertaken in the Tigray region by the Federal government and constitutionally sanctioned by the House of People’s Representatives ended in a short period of time with the control of Mekelle.
Bringing the criminal perpetrators to justice is ongoing with some that have been apprehended and others still in hiding. While we continue to detain those that are wanted for high treason and crimes against the state and people, our priority is on rebuilding the Tigray region and ensuring that our citizens in the region regain normalcy to their lives.
Claims of deliberate mistreatment of citizens in the region are baseless and aimed at sowing seeds of discord.
The Federal Government has taken the lead in providing humanitarian assistance for several months now with more than 84,000 metric tons, reaching 4.1million people in the region.
While the international community has been loudly proclaiming the need for assistance, partner support remains at 30% while the Federal government has covered the lion’s share of 70%.
Even after provision of unfettered access, we have great worry that international partners have not acted in congruence with the level of concern expressed.
Extensive rebuilding work is being undertaken in the region. Telecom and electricity lines have been repaired in most cities and towns. Banks are operating fully. Health centers have been opened and so have schools. As of yesterday, March 8, schools throughout the country, including the Tigray region, have sat for school leaving certificate examinations.
The Provisional Administration is operational all the way down to the district level in many parts of the region and strengthening its capabilities to effectively provide public service.
As host country to a large refugee population, Ethiopia has continued its commitment to more than 50,000 refugees that were settled in four camps in the Tigray region, in addition to the thousands out of camp. Efforts to provide a more hospitable environment for those in two of the four camps have been in the pipeline prior to the rule of law operations.
Resultantly, Hitsas and Shimelba camps were consolidated and Ethiopia has so far successfully resettled more than six thousand refugees into the better facilities of Mai-Ani and Adi Harush within the region.
The Government of Ethiopia has also taken concrete steps to address alleged human rights abuses that might have occurred within the context of the law enforcement operation triggered by the TPLF.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission is also conducting its own independent investigation in relation to incidents and allegations in other parts of the Tigray Region including in Axum.
The government has also signaled its willingness to collaborate with relevant UN agencies for the purpose of these investigations.

Excellencies,

Ethiopia has always stood by her neighbors and fellow Africans in their time of need. Through bilateral and continental instruments, the Government and people of Ethiopia have especially shown over the past three years, our yearning for working harmoniously with the rest of the continent. We have demonstrated our aspirations for national growth, for regional integration and for continental unity.
Our pan-African ideals are rooted in the hope and possibility that our continental resources are used to uplift our people and our continent to its deserved stature as a global player.
Those that cultivate divisions amongst us as Africans do so to assert hegemony over the developmental possibilities we can manifest if we were united. Ethiopia’s insistence and call to her brothers and sisters to adopt our ‘African Solutions to African Problems’ approach is a call to assert our capacity to hold one another accountable when we need to without the domination of those asserting morale righteousness over us.
Ethiopia stands ready to enable the continental institutions and instruments we have set up as Africans to function.
We express our will to openly engage the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in undertaking investigations jointly with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
As Ethiopia experiences this wave of conspired international admonition for daring to enforce the rule of law within its borders, I appeal to my fellow African to stand with Ethiopia in championing African Solutions to African Problems!
We are very grateful to the AU and it’s the Member States for their Pan-African solidarity and support throughout this difficult time.
We are confident that we will continue to enjoy your unreserved support and understanding in the course of this humanitarian operation and all the challenges associated with strengthening the Provisional Administration of Tigray.

I Thank You

 

March 10, 2021 – Ethiopia and the World Bank signed 14.85 Million USD and 122.5 Million USD, approximately 5.5 Billion Birr, grant agreements from a grant agent for Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

According to the statement during the agreements, the grants are intended to finance the implementation of the Global Partnership for Education for the COVID-19 Education Response Project (CERP). The purpose of the project is to maintain students’ learning during school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and after-school re-openings. Moreover, it enables the education system recovery and resilience.

The agreements were signed by H.E. W/t Yasmin Wohabrebbi, State Minister of Finance, and Mr. Ousmane Dione, the World Bank country director to Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Eritrea.

#MoF

The Spokesperson of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti, has presented the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing today (March 09) focusing on political diplomacy, the GERD issue, and major activities related to Economic Diplomacy and citizen-centered diplomacy.

I. #Political Diplomacy

• H.E. President Sahle-Work Zewde on Friday (March 05) received the credentials of the Ambassadors of the U.S.A., Kenya, Switzerland, Chad, and Gambia. They had discussions over bilateral, regional issues. They noted the importance of solving African solutions to African problems. The President has also briefed the Ambassador on current situations in the Tigray region.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen had briefed Ambassadors and representatives of members of the United Nations Security Council in Addis Ababa on the current situation in Tigray. According to Mr.Demeke:
– Unfettered humanitarian access, including to international media has been granted in Tigray
– Joint investigation on human rights violations is underway.
-3.5 million beneficiaries of the humanitarian assistance have now been reached through a cluster-based approach,
– Infrastructures that were destroyed by the TPLF forces are now being rebuilt and have resumed services.
– he also addressed concerns with regards to the challenges that some journalists and translators faced, coordination in terms of delivering humanitarian aid to some places, and the presence of foreign troops in the region.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen had a phone conversation yesterday with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Marc Garneau on issues of mutual concern, particularly the situation in Tigray with regard to humanitarian support activities and human rights concerns, and the upcoming general election in Ethiopia. Mr. Demeke told the Canadian minister that despite the unimpeded access to humanitarians, support from the international community does not exceed the government’s enormous contribution in delivering food and non-food items.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen welcomed at his office today (March 08), US Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Geeta Pasi. Noting the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, particularly in education, health, and security issues, they underscored the need to scale it up with expanded engagements. Mr.Demeke expressed his hope that the unhindered access to humanitarian support in the region will be followed by extensive support from the international community.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopiacelebrated today (March 8) International Women’s Day under the theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID 19 world”.On the occasion, State Minister H.E Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, said the day symbolizes the sacrifice paid by women, the successes achieved, and barriers that need to be removed for more equality. There used to be very few women in diplomacy said the State Minister, but now we are witnessing advances through all of the reforms the Ministry has gone through so far. She urged women in the diplomatic field to work towards achieving the economic and security interests of the country, promoting its positive images, and working for regional peace with the utmost discipline.

II. #GERD
• Members of the Presidential Panel formed by the President of the DRC on the tripartite negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam had visited Ethiopia from March 03 to 07, 2021. During the meeting, the delegation held talks with the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, and representatives of negotiating countries.
• Before the Congolese group visited Ethiopia, it made similar visits to South Africa, Egypt, and Sudan, where they have gathered information on the views of the countries on the tripartite talks. Egypt and Sudan said they recognize Ethiopia’s right to development, but they have their own concerns. In this regard,
– Sudan is concerned about dam safety, information exchange, and Ethiopia’s unilateral action.
– Egypt wants the negotiations to focus on legal issues and reach a binding agreement under international law.
– Egypt and Sudan have stated that they will never accept the completion of the second year of the dam without an agreement.
– The AU, UN, USA, and EU should play as mediators
• The Ethiopian sides made it clear that:
– The Nile basin is a shared water resource where all downstream and upstream countries will benefit from negotiations
– Ethiopia has the natural and legal right to utilize its water resources fairly and equitably without causing significant harm to downstream countries
– The questions of dam safety and information exchange that are raised by the Sudanese side have been adequately addressed and they could not be reasons for complaint at all
– The tendency to stick to the status quo of the colonial era agreements under the name of reaching binding agreements is not acceptable
– The GERD issue can be solved under the auspices of the ongoing African Union-led negotiation which does not necessitate the involvement of a different party over the issue as a mediator.
– Ethiopia strongly believes that African problems can be solved through African Solutions and the African Union and the DRC are perfectly capable of coming up with win-win solutions to all.
• The Ethiopian Diplomatic Group on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has held its regular discussion last week in person and online. The group exchanged information on current issues related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

III. #Economic Diplomacy
• Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels and Ethiopian Airlines’ Benelux Area Office co-organized a virtual event last week titled “Ethiopian’s Tourism Potentials: Promoting Ethiopia as a Preferred Destination for Tourists”. The event was aimed to promote Ethiopian tourism to the tour operators based in Belgium and Luxembourg, connect Ethiopian tour operators with Belgian and Luxembourger counterparts, and create a platform for discussions on the prospects and challenges of the sector.
• The consulate general of Ethiopia in Chongqing, China participated in an online meeting with a joint meeting of Chagan, a Chinese car manufacturer, and Ethio-Engineering Group, where the two agreed to work together to assemble cars in Ethiopia.

IV. #Citizen-centered Diplomacy
• The government of Ethiopia has expressed condolences over the death of many prisoners in a migrant detention center in Yemen due to fire. Our embassy in Oman is following the matter closely. The government of Ethiopia would like to reiterate that people should avoid illegal traveling and hoodwinked by human traffickers.
• We have repatriated 54 citizens from Beirut, 676 from Riyadh, and 341 from Jeddah over the week.

#MoFA

With the successful conclusion of the law enforcement operation, the most important priority of the Ethiopian Government in the Tigray region continues to be providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to the affected people. In this regard, it has taken concrete measures to comprehensively respond to the dire humanitarian needs on the ground, including by reallocating its meager resources from other priority areas, and close to forty billion birr has been allotted for food assistance Therefore it should be noted that the Ethiopian Government is so far covering 70% of the food assistance from its resources, while only the remaining 30% is covered by development partners and NGOs.

As indicated in the latest statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ethiopian Government has provided 780,534.6 quintals of food items to 3,800,000 beneficiaries. In addition, it has distributed non-food items estimated at more than 80 million Birr (including emergency shelter and emergency medicines) and allocated around 31million Birr for the maintenance of basic infrastructures, such as water lines. It has also provided medical supplies worth close to 199 million Birr.

The Government is also working to operationalize the health facilities in the Region and deliver emergency supplies for the hospitals and other health institutions. More than 2029 quintals of CSB and medicine has been distributed to 135,267 beneficiaries, especially partners like UNICEF and other nutrition cluster members have been heavily engaged in supplying CSB and emergency medical supplies by focusing on children under 5, lactating and pregnant women.

The ongoing relief operations have so far reached out to nearly four million people and all-out efforts are being made to reach out to every single person in need in the region. Despite the progress made thus far, the Government recognizes that the humanitarian needs on the ground remain enormously huge. That is why it is appealing to bilateral and multilateral partners to scale up their support. The Government is ready to do the necessary needs assessment jointly with partners.

Based on its continuous engagement with the international community, the Ethiopian Government has made major policy decisions recently to address some of the concerns that have been raised. In this connection, the Government has made its firm and unwavering commitment not only to provide unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance but also to ensure its implementation on the ground. With the improvement of the security situation on the ground, most areas of the region are now accessible, and a notification process has been put in place to allow humanitarian actors to travel to the region and operate without much difficulty.

The Government has made clear its unequivocal position concerning human rights abuses and crimes allegedly committed in the Tigray region. In this regard, it has reaffirmed its full commitment to undertake thorough investigations to get to the bottom of the issue and bring perpetrators to justice. The relevant Ethiopian authorities and the independent Ethiopian Human Rights Commission are undertaking the necessary investigative work that will enable the Government to take concrete measures to comprehensively address the alleged serious human rights violations and bring the perpetrators of serious crimes to justice. In this context, the Government not only welcomed the support of international human rights experts but also signaled the possibility of collaboration on joint investigations with the relevant human rights bodies. Discussion is underway with the relevant stakeholders to look at modalities for its implementation.

Furthermore, the Government is facilitating access to both local and international media to travel to the region and do their journalistic work. It is also committed to addressing any issues that may arise in relation to their work. Equally important is the need for both local and international media to follow the rules and observe the necessary code of conduct.

Finally, the Government is always ready and willing to engage with the international community in a positive and constructive manner to effectively respond to the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region. It appeals to the international community to understand the complexity of the challenge and work with the Government to scale up the ongoing relief and reconstruction efforts to restore lasting peace and normalcy in the region.

Access is adequately created; hence it would be pointless to call for access anymore. The situation in Tigray calls for concrete actions and that is food and medical assistance.

5 March 2021