Addis Ababa, 8 December 2014 (WIC) – The 9th Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day of was colorfully marked in Benishangul Gumuze Regional State today.
The celebration was graced by the presence of President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti and other high-ranking government officials, including Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Prime Minister Hailemariam of the occasion called on nations and nationalities of Ethiopia to scale up their support for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
He said the economic growth registered during the past years is the result of the joint efforts and collaborations of all nations and nationalities of the country.
He said that the adoption of the Constitution has laid the foundation for Ethiopians to exercise their right as well as benefit from development gains.
He finally called on nations and nationalities of Ethiopia to play their part in the efforts to make the upcoming election fair, democratic and peaceful.
Speaker of the House of Federation (HoF) Kassa Teklebrhan on his part said the day marks the constitutionally guaranteed rights of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia to benefit from development.
He added that the Constitution is the foundation of Ethiopia’s renaissance and is creating a generation of development patriots.
In the past 20 years, Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples have contributed a great deal to eradicate poverty, ignorance and backwardness.
He further called on Ethiopians and the Ethiopian Diaspora to intensify their efforts in developing Ethiopia.
Guest of Honor, President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir also expressed his profound joy to take part in the event. He said his government will continue to enhance people-to-people as well as government-to-government cooperation between the two countries.
Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti and the other Guest of Honor at the event, said this year’s celebration is unique in that it is being marked in the 20th anniversary of the ratification of Ethiopian Constitution.
Chief Administrator of Benishangul Gumuze Regional State, Ahmed Nasir, said the regional state has registered tangible results in the infrastructure, social and economic sector following the adoption of the constitution.
Over 4,000 participants drawn from all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, ambassadors and invited guests attended the event.
The Gambella Regional State was chosen to host the next Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day.
