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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen has today addressed concerns of international community through a virtual meeting facilitated by Atlantic Council.

Demeke has highlighted participants of the virtual meeting where some US Congress members and Biden Administration staff members were in attendance on current issues in the country and the region at large.

The meeting sufficiently addressed several issues ranging from the current situation in Tigray and matters related to humanitarian assistance efforts and access to aid agencies in the region to allegations of human rights abuses and Eritrean refugees, including the status of the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute.

The Deputy Prime Minister delivered briefings together with State Minister, Ambassador Redwan Hussien and, Tesfahun Gobezay, Director General at Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA).

The meeting noted that following the successful completion of the law enforcement operation against the unwarranted attack of the TPLF clique on the ENDF, the region has returned to normalcy with the joint efforts of the federal government and the Interim government of Tigray in rehabilitating the socio-economic fabric of the society and rebuilding infrastructures destroyed by the junta.

The representatives of the Ethiopian government also provided accurate figures correcting the erroneous claims of some reports about the number of people who need humanitarian assistance in Tigray reiterating that 1.8 million people have already been in Productive Safety Net Programs and those of the people who are affected as a result of the crisis are 700, 000 people.

In this regard, they said, one million and 46 thousand people have been reached with the humanitarian assistance dispatched to the region, from all of the 92 distribution centers in the region’s zones, saving a few who have some security restrictions.

Downplaying the claims of some staff of INGOs and international organizations to politicize the matter, the Ethiopian officials said that the government of Ethiopia is providing humanitarian assistance for the people of Tigray and readying for partners to visit the area based on the guidelines of the government.

The issue of Eritrean refugees has also been a subject of discussion where the Ethiopian representatives expressed their uneasiness in witnessing false and politically motivated allegations even though local and International Agencies have addressed humanitarian assistance to 60% of the total Eritrean refugees in Tigray who are specifically sheltered in Mai Ayni and Adi Harush camps.

The remaining Eritrean refugees, who were in the sub-standard Shimelba camp and the inhospitable Hitsats site, where Eritrean opposition used to get military training from the junta, are sheltered in different parts of Tigray and the Amhara region, they added.

The meeting also highlighted the grave human rights violations of the TPLF clique, particularly in Mikadra, as attested by independent and international human rights groups and underscored the need to further investigate allegations of sexual violence by members of the ENDF, although no independent body has provided evidence yet for this and other egregious claims.

Regarding the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, it is said that Ethiopia is committed to resolving the problem through negotiation but requires the Sudanese side to evacuate their army that has encroached deep into the Ethiopian territories destroying lives and properties of Ethiopian farmers.

Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti yesterday sat with ‘Al Ain Amharic’ to discuss developments on the GERD negotiations and the recent Ethiopian-Sudan border dispute.

Regarding the border dispute, Ambassador Dina underscored that it will not serve the inherent needs of the people Sudan. He said Ethiopia still believes in peace and requests Sudan to evacuate its military forces from Ethiopian areas that it has forcefully occupied by displacing farmers as precondition for negotiation.

Addressing chairmanship of the DRC following South Africa’s existing from its current chairmanship, Ambassador Dina reflects Ethiopia’s unshakable confidence on the AU-led negotiation and the principle of ‘African solutions to African problems.’

He recalled Ethiopia’s role in building peace during the time the DRC had faced in the 1960s and said the country’s chairmanship over the negotiation won’t negatively affect Ethiopia’s principle-based negotiation.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has visited prosthetics production center in Addis Ababa today.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said “Today I visited the prosthetics production for injured members of the armed forces and civilians.”

“What the volunteers and employees at the prosthetics production institute are doing for army members injured during the law enforcement operation and at other times, is commendable.

“People like Solomon Amare, who come from abroad and volunteer for this great cause, should be greatly encouraged.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen has met today with EU ambassadors and representatives of European countries to discuss issues of mutual concern.

On the occasion, Demeke delivered a detailed briefing on the humanitarian assistance efforts that the government and pertinent bodies are undertaking in the Tigray region.

In this regard, he said food and non-food items, including pharmaceuticals, are being delivered to people in Tigray identifying their needs and facilitating the delivery through the 92 distribution centers.

He said various government agencies, international humanitarian organizations, and aid agencies are collaborating well in rendering humanitarian relief services in the region.

Telecom, banking, electric power supply, and other basic services have been reactivated and resumed functioning coupled with the government’s efforts to rehabilitate and rebuild destroyed infrastructures Demeke said.

He said the interim administration of the region is also functioning well and is undertaking its normal duties in all areas of the region with close consultation and collaboration with the federal government.

Regarding the allegations of human rights abuses, Demeke reiterated the government’s commitment to probing into the issue.

The Deputy Prime Minister also addressed the ambassadors’ concerns on the upcoming general election in the country and other regional issues.

The ambassadors appreciated Demeke for addressing their concerns.

The meeting ended with an agreement to work closely and continue engagements.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed underscored the need to find ways to exploit the potential opportunities that Ethiopia is endowed with.

“To see potential and find hope is an act of courage. Around us are many such opportunities. The natural gems that make up our lands and plentiful. Awash National Park is one of them,” the premier wrote on Face-book today.

It is to be recalled that the nation has been developing various tourism destination projects by just exploiting the available potential.    

The Unity, Sheger, and Entoto parks are among these projects developed in the capital.

Koisha, Gorgora, and Wonchi tourism destinations located in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’, Amhara, and Oromia Regional states respectively are also ongoing projects initiated by the premier with similar objectives.