COVID 19 National Ministerial Committee met on March 20, 2020 and announced the following measures in addition to the measures issued on March 16, 2020. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of FDRE would like to highlight measures that are of concern to the diplomatic & Int’l community resident in Ethiopia.
H.E. President Sahle-Work exchanged views with the president of Rwanda, H.E. President Paul Kagame on Monday (March 16) in Kigali, on recent developments about the GERD talks.
In his remarks, H.E. President Paul Kagame underscored that cooperation among the Nile Basin countries should take into account the scientific analysis provided by technical experts.
As Egypt considers the Nile as a survival issue, it has to also acknowledge the natural rights of riparian countries to exploit the resource, Kagame added.
Noting that the Nile issue is an issue for all riparian countries, the Rwandan president called on to solve disputes over the river through Africa-based discussions and negotiation forums, adding that his country is committed to being part of the solution.
President Sahle-work for her part said Ethiopia has been committed to establishing the principle of reasonable and equitable water use among the Nile Basin countries.
Citing the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), as an achievement that stems from Ethiopia’s commitment, the President underscored that Ethiopia has been working closely with the rest of the riparian countries.
Ethiopia has also been facilitating comprehensive engagements to address the concerns of the riparian countries since the inception of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, President Sahle-work added.
She hoped the 2015 Agreement on Declaration of Principles that was signed in Khartoum between Ethiopia, Sudan and, Egypt would be implemented and prove Ethiopia’s stance that the Nile Basin can be a source of cooperation rather than conflict and misunderstanding.
Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde has met with President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda in Entebbe today.
The two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest.
President Sahle-Work welcomed Uganda’s ratification of the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) and noted with Uganda’s ratification, an additional two ratifications would facilitate the entry into force of the CFA.
She also briefed President Museveni on the negotiations regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
President Museveni reiterated the importance of ensuring the equitable and sustainable use of the River Nile waters.
The two leaders recognized the strategic importance of the Nile for all the riparian countries and the livelihood of their peoples and the need to solve any issues among the countries within the framework of African solutions to African problems.
President Museveni emphasized the need to urgently convene a summit of the Nile Basin Commission so that the Heads of State have a frank discussion on the issues of the Nile.
On bilateral matters, the two Heads of State noted with satisfaction the cordial relations that exist between the two countries.
They noted the existing cooperation in various fields including transport, trade, tourism, defense, and security, and pledged to continue closely working together for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the state of peace and security in the IGAD region and Africa at large.
They welcomed the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan and urged all the parties to commit to the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan.
The two leaders condemned the recent attempted assassination of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedu Andargachew said the river Nile should be a major source of cooperation than conflict.
In his interview with Al - Jazeera yesterday, Gedu thoroughly explained Ethiopia’s stance regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
He also admired the ‘principle-based’ stance of Sudan on the GERD talks and called on all stakeholders to use the river Nile as a source of cooperation than conflict.
His interview with Al-Jazeera (Arabic) covers a range of issues that shed light on the bone of contention on the ongoing talks on the GERD.
Ethiopian Airlines has continued to inspire African girls with the 6th consecutive all-female flight crew to Washington DC on Saturday.
The airlines marked International Women’s Day by operating anall-women flight from Addis Ababa to Washington DC.
Ethiopian has scored the all-female flight crew feat highlighting the airline’s progress in empowering African women, and the contribution of women to the socio-economic development of the continent.
Ethiopian Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam said Ethiopian firmly believes that such remarkable flights inspire African women and young girls to dream big and realize their dreams not only in aviation, but also in science, technology, engineering, art and other fields.
“While we celebrate the economic, social and political achievements of women in Africa, we take a bold move towards further championing gender equality in Ethiopia and Africa at large,” he noted.
Ethiopian all-women flight crew flew the B777 from Addis Ababa to Washington D.C while other female professionals handled all the ground operations including flight dispatch, load control, ramp operation, on-board logistics, safety and security, catering as well as air traffic control.
As an equal opportunity employer, Ethiopian creates an enabling environment for women to become the next generation aviation experts.
The airlines has seen a remarkable rise in the number of women in different leadership positions.
Ethiopian has been operating all-female flights since 2015. The airline has so far flown to Bangkok, Kigali, Lagos, Buenos Aires and Oslo with all female crew.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Gedu Andargachew, held talks with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio in today.
During the discussion, he emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to further bolster the long-standing historical and people-to-people relationship between the two countries.
Gedu expressed his belief that conducting such a dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers would facilitate the opportunity to jointly review bilateral and multilateral alliances and to consult on ways to further strengthen the cooperation between Ethiopia and Italy.
He urged the Italian Minister to support the implementation of bilateral and continental cooperation agreements signed between the two countries during the visit of Dr. Abiy Ahmed last October to Italy and the visits of Italy’s President and Prime Minister to Ethiopia.
Commending the relationship between the two countries in trade and investment, Gedu called on his Italian counterpart to further deepen relations through investing more in various sectors.
The Minister also called on Luigi Di Maio to closely monitor the implementation of projects that are being undertaken through the Italian Development Cooperation in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Minister also thanked Italy for its support to Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform and invited Italian companies to capitalize on these new domestic opportunities. Expanding on the reform’s broader privatization goals, Gedu highlighted the ongoing liberalization of the country’s service and digital sectors as highly attractive avenues for foreign direct investment.
He suggested that Italian firms, drawing on their extensive European market experience, could find mutually profitable ventures by helping to develop and scale modernized commercial frameworks for e-commerce, telecommunications, and sports betting within the fast-growing East African market.
Gedu has also briefed Luigi Di Maio about Ethiopia’s stances on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the consultation that the Ethiopian Government is currently undertaking with stakeholders at home.
The Foreign Minister of Italy, Luigi Di Maio on his part noted the significance of Ethiopia’s socio-economic reform and expressed his country’s determination to support it.
Engaging in economic opportunities in Ethiopia and helping youth entrepreneurship programs is a key step in preventing illegal immigration, Luigi Di underscored.
He also assured Gedu that Italy would provide capacity building support for the upcoming General elections in Ethiopia.
Luigi Di Maio also hailed Ethiopia’s important role in bringing peace to the Horn of Africa.
During his stay, Gedu will also meet the heads of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to consult on running projects in line with the objectives of Ethiopia’s ongoing economic reform.
The government of the Netherlands today handed over a stolen 18th century Ethiopian crown after a 27 years hid in Dutch apartment.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met early in the morning with Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag who came to Ethiopia to handover a ceremonial 18th century crown.
According to Office of the Prime Minister, the crown had been missing since 1993 and rediscovered in Rotterdam, Netherlands in October 2019.
Ethiopian Sirak Asfaw, who fled to the Netherlands in the late 1970s, discovered the crown in the suitcase of a visitor.
The gilded copper crown features depictions of the Holy Trinity and Christ’s disciples. The Netherlands government facilitated this handover with the belief that it has a duty to restitute this important artifact back to Ethiopia
Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed held talks with Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State.
The two discussed strengthening of the relationships between Ethiopia and the US, continued areas of cooperation, regional matters, as well as the reform in Ethiopia.
They explored in detail the ongoing holistic reform taking place in Ethiopia, according to office of the Prime Minister.
An agreement has been reached to strengthen the reform to which the US Government plans to provide substantial financial support.
Earlier, Pompeo also held discussions with President Sahle-Work Zewde and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedu Andargachew.
Mike Pompeo arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday for an official working visit.
President Sahle-Work Zewde received today the visiting U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.
Pompeo arrived in Addis Ababa last night for a three-day official working visit.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Redwan Hussien, who attended the meeting told journalists that the President and Pompeo discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.
During the discussion, Pompeo assured the President of the United States’ continued support for the ongoing reforms in Ethiopia.
He further said that the United States will encourage and provide support for its investors to invest and do business in Ethiopia.
The Secretary of State also commended Ethiopia’s efforts to maintain peace in the Horn of Africa region and pledged that the U.S. would continue to assist these efforts.
U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday for an official working visit.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew, accorded a warm welcome to the Secretary upon his arrival at Bole International Airport.
During his visit, Pompeo will meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Sahle-Work Zewde to discuss joint efforts to promote regional security and to support Ethiopia’s historic political and economic reform agenda.
He will also meet with African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and deliver remarks.
