Sheger Park’s Friendship Square Inaugurated (September 10, 2020)

The inauguration ceremony of Sheger Park’s Friendship Square took place this morning.

President Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, religious leaders and invited guests attended the event.

Wishing all Ethiopians a happy New Year, the President said the Sheger park would help better elevate the image and status of Addis Ababa.

Besides building image of the country and the city, parks built in Addis Ababa could be a testimony to what we can do if we work together, she said.

“If our efforts of beautifying our nation go hand in hand with other development efforts, we can change the image of the country within a short period of time,” the President said.

The Sheger has created jobs for more people, she said, adding Addis Ababa city administration and its dwellers need to take lesson from the park to jointly develop other smaller parks.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tan Jian, said Sheger Park’s Friendship Square is a timely New Year gift for Ethiopians and a new landmark of Addis Ababa.

It shows Ethiopia’s civilization, many different cultures and unity, he said, adding it is a project which affirms the long-standing friendship between Ethiopia and China.

During the event, the Prime Minister gave certificates of recognition to Chinese government and other individuals who contributed for the construction of the park.

Sheger park was initiated by the Prime Minister last year to make Addis Ababa an urban tourism site.

During the inauguration, parades were held by various professionals and service providers.

Ethiopian security forces also performed military demonstrations on air and the ground. The inauguration culminated with a flag ceremony.

Ethiopia, UN Sign 2020-2026 Cooperation Framework (September 9, 2020)

Ethiopia and the United Nations in Ethiopia today signed the 2020-2026 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). 

The strategic framework document was signed by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance and Dr. Catherine Sozi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ethiopia. 

The document describes the collective response of the UN System in Ethiopia to national development priorities and helps achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The UNSDCF, which seeks a total estimated budget of $7.1 billion, guides the entire planning and implementation of all UN development interventions in Ethiopia in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

It is anchored in Ethiopia’s development priorities as outlined in the 10-Year Perspective Plan and the Home Grown Economic Reform agenda. 

“The cooperation framework represents the renewed commitment of the UN development system to support Ethiopia’s development priorities and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country in an integrated manner, with a commitment to leave no one behind, human rights and other international standards and obligations,” said Dr. Catherine Sozi. 

Dr. Sozi also reiterated the United Nations commitment to continue supporting Ethiopia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ahmed Shide for his part said “the Cooperation Framework is the planned support of the UN Agencies to the national development priorities of Ethiopia as shown in the Ten Years Perspective Plan and the Home Grown Economic Reform.” 

The Finance Minister hailed the signing of the cooperation framework which comes at a time when Ethiopia is undergoing a major strategic shift to embark on a transformational growth while fighting against the pandemic. 

Ambassadors, Heads of Mission Wrap Up Meeting Pledging For Better Performance (September 7, 2020)

The annual meeting of senior officials, ambassadors, and consul Generals under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has been concluded today.

The meeting was held under the theme: “Diplomatic Mission to National Prosperity,” in Bishoftu town for the last 15 consecutive days.

Attendees have deliberated upon the Ministry’s performance in the current fiscal year and charted out a plan for the upcoming Ethiopian New Year taking the major issues that the ministry has to carry out into consideration.

Senior officials and various stakeholders tabled their views on the revised foreign policy of the country in line with the concept of “medemer” as expounded by H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The meeting is concluded today with a pledge from participants to advance the interest of Ethiopia with support of the lessons drawn from the two weeks long meeting.

Ethiopia to Begin COVID19 Test Kits Production (September 6, 2020)

Ethiopia will start producing test kits for COVID19 after a month, according to the Ministry of Health. 

Dr Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, said that preparations are underway to start kits production in partnership with the Chinese government. 

He said Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed is discussing with the Chinese government to start the production which helps the country to fully meet its local demand. 

Dr Dereje added that the test kits produced in Ethiopia will be distributed to other African nations. 

Ethiopia is currently conducting over 20,000 COVID19 tests per day in its 52 centres built across the nation. 

The country has so far reported 57,466 confirmed cases, with 897 deaths and 20,776 recoveries. 

World Bank Says It Continues To Work Closely With Ethiopia (September 2, 2020)

The World Bank (WB) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to work closely with the Government of Ethiopia.

In a twitter post, the World Bank Ethiopia Country office said “The World Bank continues to work closely with the Government of Ethiopia and is in full support of the country’s economic reform program and it’s financing.”

“Our overall financing program in support to Ethiopia development efforts is about US$ 2.9 billion for the first year of IDA-19 cycle. The submission of different projects including the budget support to the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors for discussion and decision in following its normal course.”

Ambassadors, Mission Leaders Discuss Revised Foreign Policy (September 2, 2020)

Ambassadors and Mission Leaders who convened in Bishoftu town discussed on Tuesday the draft document of the revised Foreign Policy of Ethiopia.

In his opening remarks on the occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedu Andargachew highlighted the need to understand and exhaust ideas in the policy document before implementation.

Ambassador Dr. Markos Tekle briefed the audience on the need to revise the foreign policy of the country.

His presentation covered various elements that need consideration in designing a foreign policy document.

Following the presentation, the meeting discussed questions and comments forwarded by the audience.

Relevant stakeholders will discuss the policy document before it is approved, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dallol Listed As Most Surreal Landscapes in the World (August 30, 2020)

The UK based Bridport and Lyme Rigs Newspaper has listed Dallol as most surreal landscapes in the world.

Bridport and Lyme Rigs News described Dallol as “Completely unique, a site resembles science fiction more than anywhere else that is actually real”

Dallol sports an altitude more than 100 meters below sea level, and a distinctly Martian aesthetic, it explained.

Socotra, Yemen, Lake Hillier, Australia, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, Zhangye Danxia Landform, China, The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan and Zhangjiajie Forest, China are included in the list unveiled by the newspaper as surreal landscapes of the world.

According to Bridport and Lyme Rigs, Dallol has the water records a shockingly acidic 0.2 average pH.

Dallol is a cinder cone volcano in the Danakil Depression, northeast of the Erta Ale in Afar Region, Ethiopia.

It is to be recalled that Ethiopia has been chosen by Forbes.com as one of the seven best destinations that must be visited in the post coronavirus world.

Ethiopia, Sudan Agree To Settle Any Issues through Dialogue, Negotiations (August 25, 2020)

Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed held discussion with Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in Khartoum today.

The Ethiopian delegation led by Prime Minister Dr Abiy arrived in Khartoum this morning for an official working visit.

The visit comes at the heels of the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Sudan’s constitutional declaration according to a statement issued by office of the Prime Minister.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Dr Abiy congratulated the Sudanese government for the millstones achieved since then and for the current on-going political discussions.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that the fate of both countries is intertwined and rooted in longstanding historic and strategic relations.

He reiterated “we are one people, one family,” highlighting that any issues, including in relations to GERD and borders, can be addressed amicably through continued and sustained good faith discussion.

The Sudan’s Prime Minister for his part emphasized the complementary nature of both countries which compels them to work together for mutual benefits.

With strengthened collaborations on the economic front, Ethiopia and Sudan’s economies can be a catalyst for progress in the Horn region and Africa, he said.

Both parties affirmed solidarity for each other’s endeavours and agreed to settle any issues through continued dialogue and negotiations.

River Abay Builds Completeness, Self-Image and Harmony among Ethiopians: Experts (August 24, 2020)

Experts who participated in the national consultation held under the “Abay River: a source of life and pride to Ethiopia” stress importance of the River Abay in changing narratives of Ethiopia.

Expressing his views on the word ‘pride’, Dr. Mohamud Girma stressed utilizing the Abay River will make Ethiopians complete, correct their self-image and help them make peace and strengthen harmony with themselves.

A Hydrologist and Advocate and Climate Advocate, Mekdelawit Messay, said the Abay River basin covers 2/3 of the irrigation and hydropower potential of the country and almost 50 million Ethiopians are dependent on the river for their livelihoods which made utilizing the river a matter of existence rather than choice.

A historian from Addis Ababa University, Abebaw Ayalew, through his paper revealed how the River Abay is inextricably linked with historical and religious factors affecting the relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt.

Deputy Director and Co-Founder of the East African Policy Research Institute, Dr. Birhanu M Lenjiso Abau said the Abay River should not be taken as simply as a source of water to Ethiopians but as a link to the country’s history of nation-building.

Mahemud Eshetu, a Ph.D. candidate in Law, elaborated on how Ethiopia should understand the 1902 agreement between Ethiopia and Egypt, the 1929 and 1959 colonial-era agreements over the Nile River and their possible effect on the ongoing GERD negotiations to reverse rhetoric over the issue.

Over 180 people have participated in the meeting where a number of questions were forwarded by the participants and further elaborated by the minister and the presenters of research papers.

በቻልነው መጠን ያደረግናቸው ጥረቶች ተደማምረው ለወገን እየደረስን ነው:: እናመሰግናለን! (August 24, 2020)

በቻልነው መጠን ያደረግናቸው ጥረቶች ተደማምረው ለወገን እየደረስን ነው:: እናመሰግናለን! አንዳንዶች “ብዙ እያደረግን ነው፣ ጥሩ ነው” ሲሉ ሌሎች ደግሞ “ከአሜሪካ ወገናችን ብዙ ይጠበቃል፣ ገና ስላልስማ ነው” እያሉ ነው:: እርስዎስ? “Great things are done by a serious of small things brought together.” Thank you for your continued support! Please share to those that want to be part of this historic call to save lives. https://covid19.ethiopianembassy.org