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Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew held phone conversation with his South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor on various bilateral and International issues.

During their conversation, the two ministers agreed to further boost the longstanding relationship between their respective countries.

Reaffirming to work together to prevent and contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministers noted that forging a joint approach to tackle the scourge is indispensable to get a lasting victory over the dominance of the pandemic.

In addition to bilateral issues of common interest, the ministers have also exchanged views about the trilateral talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Following Gedu’s briefings on the GERD, Naledi Pandor said unresolved issues should get solution only through dialogue.

Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Institute has stated that members of it committee stand firmly behind their decision of last year to award the Nobel Peace Prize 2019 to Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.

In an official letter issued today, Olav Njolstad, Director of Norwegian Nobel Institute said the committee has never recognized its decision nor, as for now, has it any intention to do so regarding the Peace Prize Awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.

The statues of the Norwegian Nobel Committee do not allow it to revoke a Peace Prize once awarded, he said.

“The same goes for the other Nobel Committees and Nobel Prizes as well. Indeed, not a single Nobel Prize has ever been revoked since the first prizes were awarded back in 1901.” the letter added.

Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Yasser Abbas, said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is safer than the dams in Sudan and Egypt.

“The Renaissance Dam’s degree of safety is better than that of Sudanese dams and Egypt’s High Dam, based on some studies,” Abbas said in a television interview.

This, he explained, is due to the materials and technology used in its construction.

“We only side with our interests, and sometimes they go along with those of Egypt or Ethiopia. When we said that the Renaissance Dam is beneficial to us, we were accused of siding with Ethiopia,” he indicated.

Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been in talks for a couple of years in an effort to reach an agreement on the dam. Egypt fears that Ethiopia’s dam will reduce its water supplies.

However, Ethiopia says the dam was not intended to harm Egypt’s interests but has been built to generate electricity.

Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed stated planting trees in a physically distanced manner and at family level need not deter nation’s COVID 19 prevention efforts.

“With the launch of this year’s Green Legacy, let us not think that the government is asking citizens to throw caution to the wind.” the Prime Minister stressed.

According to the Premier, the already launched tree planting campaign is an opportunity for innovators and critical thinkers to constructively explore how and in what ways the country can meet its 5 billion trees target in a COVID 19 responsive way.

“Strictly adhering to prevention measures is critical. Nevertheless, we can also maintain productivity and meet our goals while observing these measures put in place.” he added.

The premier said the country has set up a Ministerial Committee to oversee prevention efforts even before the first case of coronavirus in the country.

“Since then various sub-committees have been formed to ensure adequate preparedness and response in containing and mitigating the virus.” the premier noted.

COVID 19 sub-committees have focused on setting up isolation, quarantine and treatment centers, procuring and soliciting support for medical supplies, mobilizing resources locally and abroad, Preparing food stockpiles for the most vulnerable, and putting into effect various macroeconomic regulations, Dr. Abiy underscored.

The enforcement of various measures has been taken to ensure the readiness by the public for a surge period in positive cases, which the country is witnessing now as community spread.

The role that each and every individual has played over the last three months to stop the spread of the virus should not be underestimated, Dr. Abiy underlined.

“Green Legacy is not a one day event. It will happen throughout the rainy season. It can be realized at the individual and household level.” the Prime Minister added.