Ethiopia’s widening of the political space continues, as authorities in Oromiya province have pardoned more than 2,345 prisoners jailed for involvement in unrest that gripped the country in 2015-2016. The move is part of government’s efforts to calm unrest that has lingered since mass protests broke out in the region over accusations of land grabbing.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador Teshome Toga Chanaka spoke to EURACTIV’s Georgi Gotev in a video interview :
“We don’t believe in imposition of development policies because something that is imposed without your will won’t last long. This is exactly what has happened in the past in Africa and Ethiopia would like to see that come to an end. Ownership means you take your destiny in your own hands, that you own the policies and the strategies that you think are good for Ethiopia and good for Africa. This, however, doesn’t mean that we shall not work with our partners. But partners should work in terms of our policies.”
On 25 January 2018, Ambassador Teshome had an exchange of views with members of the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly about the political situation in Ethiopia. The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly is a unique institution which focuses on topics of fundamental importance for the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) and EU countries, such as promoting democracy, good governance, developing trade and economic relations.
During the meeting, H.E. Ambassador Teshome Toga introduced recent developments in Ethiopia to Members of the European Parliament, including the release of 528 prisoners. While explaining the negotiation process that led to this historic decision, Ambassador Teshome emphasised that the absolute priority of the government is to fight poverty and inequality. Therefore, in addition to expanding the democratic space of the country, Ethiopia will strive to change the structure of its economy through industrialisation and focus on developing the immense potential of its youth.
Ambassador Teshome also underlined the important role played by the EU partnership with Ethiopia and appreciated the support of members of the Delegation. Members of the Parliament, for their part, lauded the recent initiatives taken by the government and asked questions about the next steps the country was planning to take. They encouraged Ethiopia to keep on deepening its democratic process.
Finally, Ambassador Teshome thanked the members for EP-Ethiopia Friendship Group who had made this intervention possible and took the opportunity to invite Members of the European Parliament to visit Ethiopia to better understand the situation in the country.
You are cordially invited to the holiday fair in Antwerp, where Dynasty Ethiopia Tours will represent Ethiopia from 25 till 28 of January. Go to stand 5111 Hal 4 to discover the beauty of Ethiopia!On Thursday 25th January until Sunday 28th January 2018, from 10am until 6pm. Evening opening on Thursday 25th, until 8pm with an exclusive performance.
Antwerp Expo
Jan van Rijswijcklaan 190
2020 Antwerp
Belgium
The Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Mr Louis Michel (for the European Parliament) and Mr Joseph Owona Kono (for the ACP Parliamentary Assembly) congratulate the decision taken on Thursday 4 January 2018 by the Ethiopian authorities to release 528 members of the opposition, including Dr. Merara Gudina, President of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) opposition party.
They welcome the release of a first group of detainees on Wednesday 17 January, including Dr. Merara Gudina. They commend the President, HE Mr. Molatu Teshome and the Prime Minister, HE Mr. Haile Mariam Dessalegn, and the members of the Ethiopian Government for their efforts to deepen the democratic debate in Ethiopia with a view to improving the national consensus. They stress that democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights are the nuclear triangle of the foundations of any society. They also welcome the decision to definitively close the Maekelawi detention center in Addis Ababa.
These decisions are a first step towards national reconciliation. They recall that democracy requires the protection of rights and freedom, respect for legality and the guarantee of free discussion and encouragement of debate. They recall that Ethiopia plays a key role in the region, including hosting the headquarters of the African Union (AU), contributing to United Nations peacekeeping forces, engaging in aid and security cooperation with Western countries and is contributing to international efforts to restore stability in Somalia and to combat terrorist groups in the region.
They commend Ethiopia’s commitment to relations between Sudan and South Sudan and its willingness to assist in peace negotiations under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
They recall the strategic engagement between the European Union and Ethiopia adopted on 14 June 2016, recognizing Ethiopia’s essential role in Africa and in the international community, and commend its constructive role in maintaining peace and security in the Horn of Africa, and beyond on the entire African continent.
They commend Ethiopia’s progress in improving the living conditions of the rapidly growing population, including some 847,000 refugees who have fled conflict in neighboring countries, and express their gratitude for her leadership in the region and within the African Union.
It took just 2 hours, nine minutes and 34 seconds for Solomon Deksisa to achieve his target of winning the gold medal in the overall men of the 2018 Mumbai marathon.
While he could not better his personal best of 2:06:22 achieved in the Rotterdam Marathon in 2016, the victory in Mumbai gave Deksisa an immense pleasure coming under difficult conditions and rough, narrow, turning and twisting streets of Mumbai. Deksisa’s compatriot Shumet Akalnaw reached the finish 16 seconds behind him at 2:10:00 while the third place went to Kenya’s Joshya Kipkorir who clocked 2:10:30.
It was a double delight for Ethiopia as the women’s title too went to them with Amane Gobena clinching the gold in 2:25:49. The winners of both overall men’s and women’s categories will return home richer by $42,000.
“I expected to win,” said an elated Deksisa with the help of his translator Getaneh Tessama who is also his coach. “This is my first win in Mumbai and will motivate me to participate in other races,” he added.
On January 12, 2018 Ambassador Teshome Toga met with Mr. Marc Angel, MP and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Parliament of Luxembourg and Ms. Tania Tennia, Head of the International Department. The two sides discussed matters related to bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual concern of the two countries. During the meeting, Ambassador Teshome explained Ethiopia’s present socio-economic development and the measures taken by the government to widen the political space and forge national consensus emphasizing the recent decision of the government by terminating charges against some political leaders by pardoning some sentence prison terms.
He also stressed Ethiopia’s effort in maintaining regional peace and security and shouldering the responsibility lost of refugees. On his behalf, the chairman, appreciated the existing political diplomatic relationships and underscored the need to strengthen the economic relation between the two countries. The two sides have also briefed each other regarding outcome of AU-EU summit which took place on 29-30 November 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and underscored the need for political commitments to achieve the common priorities for the AU-Africa partnership in identified priority areas.
Later, the Ambassador had a discussion with Mr. Olivier Massart, Executive Director of ADA and discussed matters related particularly to the African Microfinance week which was held from 9-13 October 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr. Massart presented on how his organization made the overall preparation in collaboration with the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels and stakeholders in Ethiopia. He extended his heartfelt gratitude to Ambassador Teshome for his instrumental support given to his organization and devoted following up until the successful completion of the Conference which attracted over 600 participants from many countries. Amb. Teshome underlined the pivotal role played by the small and micro enterprise and the role in microfinance in mounting Ethiopia’s economy and enquired the support of the organization to strengthen the overall capacity together with the Ethiopian Federal Micro & Small Enterprises Development Agency.
On the same day, Ambassador Teshome also met with Mr. Diederick Zambon, Head of Division European Investment Bank. The discussion focused on EIB financed projects in Mojo leather industry city regarding its appraisal and of the approval of the project and status of leather industry value chain project launched as part of EU’s job compact. The two sides also exchanged ideas on the field visit organized for Board member of the Bank to Ethiopia and the possibility of hosting EIB Africa Day in Addis Ababa in 2018. Both sides also further discussed issues related to EIB’s challenge in accessing to local bids due to local procurement and production content.
Finally, with the view of strengthening the economic relationships of the two countries, Ambassador Teshome met with Mr. Daniel Sahr, Head of International Trade in Chamber of Commerce Luxembourg. The meeting was mainly stressed on identifying possible ways of engaging companies who went to Addis Ababa as part of the first pre-investment Mission to Ethiopia. The Chamber identified companies who have shown interest to consider investment in Ethiopia and finally, the two sides highlighted the need to engage in one on to one the interested companies to invest in Ethiopia.
On the following day, with the view of promoting the Ethiopian culture and its tourism destination to the Luxembourgish people, Ambassador Teshome took part in the LUXEXPO which was held on January 12-14 2018. At this event, the Embassy together with the Ethiopian Airlines promoted the Beautiful image of Ethiopia with a stand colorfully decorated Ethiopian accompanied by its peculiar coffee ceremony, cultural music and dances. The Luxembourgish Wort, placing Ethiopia’s stand image on its front cover page, reported that this year the visitors from Luxembourg and the surrounding counties increased by 6000 and the total has reached to 29,000 visitors.
Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Workneh Gebeyehu asserted on 16 January that the partnership between Ethiopia and Egypt is longstanding, beyond the Nile River that the two countries share.
Gebeyehu made the remarks during his discussion with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on the sidelines of the 6th Ethiopia-Egypt Joint Ministerial Commission meeting.
Gebeyehu, who praised the historic relations between the two countries, also called for further strengthening the ties between Ethiopia and Egypt with due emphasis given to priority interest areas.
According to Gebeyehu, the diplomatic relations among Ethiopia and Egypt is beyond the Nile River that the two countries share and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River, a major tributary to the River Nile.
Shoukry revealed that the current high-level meeting between Ethiopia and Egypt mainly envisaged to strengthen partnerships in the areas of education, culture, trade and investment.
The diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Egypt is largely intertwined with the Blue Nile River that originates from Ethiopia and shared among Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the river, which will be regarded as Africa’s largest dam upon completion with a total volume of 74,000 million cubic meters, has been a major issue among the two countries since its commencement in April, 2011 with a construction cost of 80 billion Ethiopian birr (close to 4.7 billion U.S. dollars). While Ethiopia and Sudan reached a mutual consensus on the construction of the dam, Egypt frequently expressed its concern that the dam would affect its share of the river.
The three countries had formed a tripartite committee back in 2012 to create understanding and look into the benefits and impacts the project would have in the three countries.
Work is to start later this year on the construction of a railway training academy, Ethiopian Railways Corp announced on January 13.
When fully operational, the academy is expected to employ around 250 teachers and administrative staff, training up to 1 00 students at a time in seven different railway-related disciplines.
The Chinese-built electrified railway linking Addis Ababa and Djibouti began full commercial operation on January 8, following a year of trial running since its formal launch in October 2016. The line is initially being operated by Chinese contractors but is scheduled to transfer to local management after five years. While some Ethiopian staff have already been sent to China and Russia for training, the new academy is expected to play a key role in ensuring that the necessary operational and engineering skills are available.
Under an agreement signed in December 2016, a joint company is being established to manage the railway, owned 75% by Ethiopia and 25% by Djibouti. Ethiopia is to appoint three of the four board members, including Transport Minister Ahmed Shide who will act as Chairman, according to ERC Communications Director Dereje Tefera.
