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Completing GERD is a Matter of Ensuring Ethiopia’s Sovereignty: Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, noted completing GERD project is a matter of ensuring the sovereignty of the country.
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H.E. Demeke, who is also Chairperson of the National Council on the Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) made the remark at a symposium organized in connection with the 10th anniversary of commencement of the dam.
H.E. Ato Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, made a three-day working visit to Brussels from March 24-26,2021. During his visit, he met and held a fruitful exchange of views with the European Commission high officials including H.E. Madam Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, H.E. Mr Janez LENARCIC, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, and H.E. Eamon Gilmore, European Union Special Representative for Human Rights.
The Minister briefed the Commissioners about overall developments in Ethiopia including the upcoming national election. He further explained about concrete steps being taken with regard to the provision of Humanitarian Assistance and the investigation of Human Rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The two sides also exchanged views on the current status of Ethio-Sudan boarder, the GERD negotiations as well as issues concerning Ethiopia-EU development cooperation.
During the discussion, the EU side recognised the positive developments registered in allowing unfettered access and the commencement of investigation to bring to justice perpetrators for alleged crimes of human rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. They also called to strengthening these positive developments.
Water experts, scholars drawn from higher education institutions and other officials were in attendance of the event organized by the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy.
“Developing the Abay River and completing the dam go beyond working for the future generation. It is a matter of ensuring the sovereignty of the country,” Demeke told the participants.
Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr Seleshi Bekele, for his part briefed the participants on the progress of the GERD. The project has now reached seventy- nine percent and the second phase of filling the dam will start in the coming rainy season, the Minister said.
The GERD is to produce electricity for Ethiopia’s more than hundred million people, of which around seventy percent live in darkness with no access to electricity. In fact, the benefit of the GERD is beyond Ethiopia as it will ensure regulated flow of water throughout the year, serve as an additional water bank with less evaporation rate, reduce sediment load and increase the life of downstream reservoirs and water infrastructures, and offers protection against floods and has less evaporation of water. Therefore, the dam is truly transformative in all aspects for all the basin countries.
The project is financed solely by the Ethiopian government and contributions from Ethiopians and those Ethiopian origins in the diaspora from all over the world.
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs The EU officials further noted that the EU highly values its strategic partnership with Ethiopia and its key role in the Horn of Africa region. It’s to be recalled that the two sides reached into ‘Towards EU-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership’ in 2016.
H.E. Ahmed Shide meeting with EU commissioners
Hon. Dr. Negeri Lencho briefs the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of ACP-EU Joint Committees on current developments in Ethiopia
The Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states and the European Union was held virtually on March 25, 2021. In the meeting, Ethiopia was represented by the Honorable Dr. Negari Lencho, Chairperson of Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives. During the Meeting Hon. Dr. Negeri Lencho briefed members of the Joint Assembly regarding the post-operation undertakings of government in the Tigray region as well as the upcoming general elections.
In his statement, Hon. Dr. Negeri expressed, government’s readiness to engage with the international community in a positive and constructive manner to effectively respond to the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region. He further appealed to the Assembly to understand the complexity and the challenges of restoring lasting peace as well as ascertaining the ongoing reforms and called on them to support the government’s effort to scale up the ongoing relief and reconstruction in the Tigray region.
The JPA, joint committees meeting, deliberated on various issues, including Global collaboration and challenges for Covid-19 vaccine access and funding ACP-EU cooperation under the post-Cotonou agreement.
H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene addressed the joint committees of Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Development Committee (DEVE) of the European Parliament regarding the current situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, and exchanged views with the members of the joint committees. Ambassador Hirut briefed the honourable members of the joint committees of the European Parliament on the genesis and reason behind the Law and Order ascertaining Operation in Tigray, and current efforts of providing humanitarian assistance as well as the task of rebuilding damaged infrastructures and the restoration of public service in Tigray. Ambassador Hirut further explained that the government is now focused on the following key priorities: delivering much needed humanitarian assistance, bringing the perpetrators before the law, investigating atrocities, reassuring the community, and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the International Partnership Commission (INTPA), and the Commission for Crisis Management also presented their views on the situation in Ethiopia and the region at large.
The Ambassador responded to the questions and opinions raised by the members of the joint committee, among others, on the humanitarian and human rights situation in Tigray, the upcoming national elections in Ethiopia, and the relations between Ethiopia and the Sudan.
The Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels has held a Webinar discussion on the 25th of February 2021, on the current situation in Ethiopia including updates on the situation in the Tigray region. The seminar was mainly organized for Media Houses and Think Tanks based in Brussels.
H.E. Dr. Gedion Timothewos, Attorney General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Mitiku Kassa, Commissioner of Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission and H.E. Mr. Tesfahun Gobezay, Director General of Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs were the guest speakers. Dr Gidon briefed the audience about the reform process and the operation in Tigray from legal and Human Rights points of view, Mr Mitiku gave an elaborate talk on how the government is conducting humanitarian support to the needy population in the region. The overall policy on refugees in the country and the status of camps in the Tigray region as well as the efforts to repatriate Ethiopians in the Sudan camps was expounded by Mr Tesfahun.
Issues such as the need to investigate alleged human rights violations, the actual humanitarian situation in Tigray and access to the media were amongst the issues raised by participants and discussed widely.
Ethiopian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and EU institution, H.E Hirut Zemene had moderated the webinar. In her remarks, Ambassador Hirut has emphasized the hugely imbalanced coverage of the situation in Ethiopia by various international media houses and think tanks. She noted, hence, the need to organize the webinar with the aim of addressing these imbalances.
Hon. Dr. Negari Lencho, Chairperson of Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives
Ambassador Hirut Zemene Addresses the Joint Committees of Foreign Affairs and Development of the European Parliament The Embassy holds a webinar on the current situation in Ethiopia including updates on the situation in the Tigray region
Partial view of the participants. (Photo credit:- The Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium)
The Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels organized an Investment Promotion webinar on April 27, 2021, with the aim of familiarizing the Belgian and Luxembourgish business communities about the doing business environment.
H.E. Hirut Zemene, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU institutions, moderated the promotion event. Distinguished panellists were H.E. Lelise Neme, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission and H.E. Mr. Sandokan Debebe, CEO of Industrial Parks Development Corporation.
In her opening remarks, H.E. Amb. Hirut Zemene stated that Ethiopia leads East Africa in attracting Foreign Direct Investment and is Africa’s fifth-largest recipient of FDI. She also stated that the business relationship between Belgium and Ethiopia is growing and that Belgian companies are active in the light manufacturing and horticulture sectors.
Participants of the event included representatives of chambers of commerce, regional investment and trade agencies, investors and business owners from Belgium, Luxembourg, Ethiopia, and the UNIDO office in Brussels.
Partial view of the participants. (Photo credit:- The Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium) The OACPS and the EU Initial the New Partnership Agreement
The initialing of the new Partnership Agreement by the chief negotiators of the Organization of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU), Honorable Professor Robert Dussey, Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, and H.E. Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, on 15 April 2021, marks the formal conclusion of the post-Cotonou negotiations, which was commenced in September 2018 in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The new Agreement substantially aligns the cooperation to current day mutual needs while expanding the scope and scale of the EU and OACPS’ ambitions to better address current and future challenges. Both parties have raised their commitments in priority areas such as: human rights, democracy and governance, peace and security, human development which encompasses health, education and gender equality, as well as environmental sustainability, climate change, sustainable development and growth, and migration and mobility.
The new Agreement, which is expected to be signed in the second half of 2021 once the internal procedures are completed by both sides, will replace the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and sets the framework for political, economic and sectorial cooperation for the next twenty years under the new name - Samoa Agreement. The embassy has reached out to various trade and investment companies and organizations in a bid to widen cooperation with the latter.
Hon. Professor Robert Dussey and H.E. Ms. Jutta Urpilainen Source: OACPS
The Embassy Fosters Investment Links
Flanders Investment and Trade Agency (FIT), Awex, Hub Brussels Investment and Export Agency, Private Investors for Africa (PIA), Janssen Pharmaceuticals and UNIDO were amongst these contacts. In the discussion held with the three trade and investment offices there was an elevated interest to promote business links between the two sides. All regions expressed readiness to hold business visit to Ethiopia when the COVID situation permits.
(Photo credit:- The Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium)
Further discussion was held with the management of Janssen pharmaceuticals led by Mr. Mohsen Ramez and Herwig Janssen and Secretary General of Private Investors for Africa (PIA), Mr. Walter Gelens. The two are among others, targeted in the effort to attract anchor investors in Ethiopia.
In the discussion with PIA, both sides agreed to consider the possibilities to work on the agriculture sector that could support farmers to get a better yield and fight pesticides. Ambassador Hirut also explained about the ongoing privatisation process in Ethiopia, among others, in sugar and steel manufacturing projects and encouraged Mr Gelens to focus on those sectors as well.
(Photo credit:- The Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium)
Janssen pharmaceuticals, a leading manufacturing company has also expressed interest to study possibilities of manufacturing of pharmaceutical products in Ethiopia and technology transfer.
The Embassy had also fruitful exchanges with the UNIDO Office Representative to the European Union and OACPS in Brussels. Discussion was focused on how to collaborate to increase the efficiency of promotion activities for the country’s diverse range of investment opportunities.
H.E. Ambassador Hirut stated that UNIDO has been involved in various industrial capacity development projects in the country for many years.
The Head of UNIDO Office in Brussels, Representative to the European Union, and OACPS, Mr. Patrick Jean Gilabert, on his part, noted that Ethiopia is one of the eight ACP countries selected for the UNIDO program called “Business Friendly and Inclusive National and Regional Policies to Strengthen Productive Capacity and Value Chains.” He also underscored his office is ready to collaborate with the embassy on investment promotion capacity building program to improve the promotional activities.
During the discussion, Mrs. Aurelia Patrizia CALABRO, UNIDO’s Country Representative and Regional Director, explained that UNIDO is currently working in Ethiopia on three major investment projects: agro-industry, leather and leather product industry, and textile industry.
(Photo credit:- The Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium)
Ethiopians residing in Belgium and throughout Europe staged a rally to protest foreign governments’ interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs
The staff of the Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium have staged a cultural exchange event by tree planting under the title “ Promoting Ethio- Belgium cooperation through City Greening” at Woluwe Park in Brussels on March 22, 2021.
The event aimed at promoting Ethiopia’s effort to build green footprint by combating environmental degradation, build resilience, and transition into a green society. Ethiopia planted more than 9 billion seedlings all over the country since the beginning of the campaign launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019.
The Belgian municipality appreciated the Green Legacy initiative and took part in the tree planting event by providing seedlings and taking part in the plantation process. The program envisaged in promoting exchanges between Ethiopia and Belgium on the cause of environmental protection. Through Green Legacy, the government of Ethiopia plans to plant 20 billion trees by the end of 2024.
The rally was organized to express concern and opposition to unfair pressure put on Ethiopia in its law and order ascertaining operation to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity during its law enforcement operation in Tigray.
The rally was held in front of the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium.
(Photo credit:- The Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium)
Source :- www.vrt.be
The Embassy of the Federal Democratic of Ethiopia in Brussels together with the Ethiopian cultural centre in Belgium organized an event in the memory of Professor Mitiku Belachew, who passed away, on April 7, 2021, at the age of 79.
During the event, Ambassador Hirut Zemene, on behalf of the government and the people of Ethiopia, expressed her deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to Professor Mitiku Belachew’s family and friends. Ambassador Hirut highlighted that Professor Mitiku Belachew was a profoundly talented person that through his research has introduced the science of Lastroscopy that brought a remedy to many people around the world. She mentioned with appreciation the contribution he made to the Black Lion hospital in Ethiopia by establishing African Laproscopy Centre.
His deeds in dedicating several years of his life to helping promote and implement important social support projects in various parts of Ethiopia, she said, were unforgettable.
His wife, Madam Fatma Cartar had deeply expressed the good deeds of Prof Mitiku, among others in Belgium, Ethiopia and Morocco. She further noted how a loving family man he was.
Representative of the Ethiopian cultural centre Dr Zerihun Assefa gave a documented account of the professor’s life.
His family members around the world as well as his friends expressed how he has positively and tangibly impacted the lives of ordinary Ethiopians and how many are grateful for his deeds. Many expressed how Professor Mitiku was humble, kind, and wise in his walks of life. They added that his intelligence, ambition and passion accompanied him in everything he did.
It was to this featuring deed that he received “Merits Wallon” in 2016 in recognition of his service and scientific achievements in the Wallonia region of Belgium.
(Photo credit:- The Embassy of Ethiopia in Belgium) The Ethiopian National Football Team has qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that will be held in Cameroon.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs congratulated the national team. The National Football Team has qualified for the 2022 AFCON after eight years of absences from the continental competition.
Ethiopian-born beauty wins Miss Belgium 2021
Ethiopian-born Kedist Deltour, a 23-year-old, East Flanders, has won the Miss Belgium 2021.
Deltour was crowned at the Proximus Theatre in Adinkerke. The ceremony was held without an audience due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Out of a total of 33 candidates, 15 were chosen for the finals. Thanaree Scheerlinck won first runner-up, followed by Louise-Marie Losfeld, Elodie Gualano, and Camilia Martinez. The new Miss Belgium was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. When she was eight years old, she lost her mother to cancer. Her father left her in an orphanage the following year.
Belgian couple Peter and Nadège Deltour adopted her when she was ten years old.
Source :- Brussels Express
Rock-Hewn Churches Of Lalibela Source: Ehiopia Land of Orign
