Category: Politics

Ethiopia and Somaliland signed will pave the way for Ethiopia to access the sea and diversify the economic opportunities of the two sides, Juba University, Peace and Security Studies Institute Professor Ter Majok told ENA.

He noted that the deal will pave the way for Ethiopia to realize access to sea and implement its strategic vision.

‘The MoU will pave the way to realize the aspiration of this great nation to have access to the sea…Access to the sea for Ethiopia is very important as it has a lot of strategic vision for the leadership of the country. Ethiopia joined the BRICS and being part of this big family needs for Ethiopia to find other ways to have economic growth and political cooperation,’ Professor Majok said.

He urged other African countries to start cooperation with each other this way and do business to facilitate trade, development, and regional integration and create new economic opportunities.

‘For Ethiopia, it is a great move. Ethiopia will realize its economic growth because you will ha
ve access to the sea and from the port after the destination, the goods that come to this country will boost the ongoing economic challenge that we are having and it will actually build the relationship in terms of businesses, in terms of connectivity between people and it will also enhance the already existing corporations,’ he elaborated.

He noted ‘Access to the sea is very important. It’s very important. Ethiopia is now part of the BRICS. So, for you to expand your economy, you need to think beyond the reasonable doubt of the current situation that we’re in and therefore the two sides will build just the beginning of the integration of the two communities, I believe there will be roads that will be built and those roads will connect.’

‘You will not have regional integration if we don’t start interacting with each other,’ Majok underscored, pointing out that recognizing the growing population and economy, Ethiopia has been trying to diversify its access to the sea to enhance its import-export trade.

Eth
iopia managed to get access to the sea, “this historic milestone,’ he said. ‘At least, we have where it can have access given the challenges that are in the region.’

He suggested that tension which is coming following the deal should be prevented from escalation.

‘But with the strong diplomatic engagement that Ethiopia has, I believe that Ethiopia will come out for this and have a mutual understanding. Ethiopia will not leave any stone unturned, whether in the region or beyond the region because it is all about the survival of the state. A state has to survive and it has to provide for its citizens…this was a milestone and Ethiopia has the right to do what is best for the nation for its people.’

Stating that the MoU fosters regional integration and development undertakings, Professor Majok went on saying ‘there will be this conductivity between Ethiopia and Somaliland. So there will be some joint projects that the two sides will add to the other countries that will benefit and will open new opportunities
because you are going to have new development projects, and you will create jobs. People also will be moving from point A to the other point and for the aspiration of Africa Agenda 2063 connectivity is key.’

There must be a link from the port to the last destinations and I believe it will bring a lot of good news, businesses, job creation, and so on, he added.

Discussion, doing business and working together on different projects are crucial for regional integration and development, he said.

‘It is the right time for the states to be engaged and be able to build on that aspiration of regional integration and beyond,’ he noted.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia’s long diplomacy has not only benefitted itself but contributed significantly to Africans and black people at large, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen said.

Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) in connection with the Diplomacy Week that opened today, Demeke explained the success of Ethiopia’s diplomatic activities that have contributed significantly to Africans and black people for centuries.

Ethiopia was a member of the League of Nations as the only free African nation in an almost entirely colonized Africa and represented the black people, he recalled.

This is a real testimony that Ethiopia’s diplomacy has made a great contribution to Africans and other black people.

Demeke noted that Ethiopia conducted foreign relations in ancient times through various ways and established Ministry of Foreign Affairs 116 years ago.

According to him, the diplomacy of the country is inextricably linked to its national security and has brought tangible results to protect
its interests.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister stated that the Diplomacy Week is of paramount importance to draw lessons from the past and identify opportunities and challenges in the diplomatic sphere.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

An exhibition highlighting Ethiopia’s 116-year diplomatic history and contemporary diplomatic accomplishments kicked off in Addis Ababa today in the presence of high level government officials.

The exhibition, inaugurated at the Science Museum under the theme “From an African Hub to the World,” will remain open for public until February 2, 2024.

The exhibition was officially opened by President Sahle-Work Zewde and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen.

Federal and Regional Government officials, members of the diplomatic community based in Adddis Ababa, veteran Ethiopian diplomats, among others were in attendance.

The exhibition aims to inspire Ethiopians to discover more about their country’s diplomatic history and to help them appreciate its potential, and play their role in the future.

The expo is also important in depicting the institution’s memory and showing the potential for new diplomatic avenues in the future.

It will also give the opportunity to the public to b
etter understand about Ethiopia’s past, present, and future diplomacy.

The exhibition contains photographs revealing moments of the historical events related to visits and bilateral meetings of heads of state, Ethiopia’s efforts for international peace, Ethiopia’s aspiration and its supports for the freedom of African nations, among others.

The exhibition is part of the grand Diplomatic Week organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mesganu Arga, met with Turkiye’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Berk Baran, at his office today.

During the occasion, the two sides discussed current affairs, bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual importance, as well as on regional peace and security issues.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, met today with UN Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, Hanna Tetteh.

The discussion between the two sides covered issues ranging from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), current affairs, bilateral and multilateral issues of common concern, as well as issues of regional peace and security.

Ambassador Mesganu said that the Ethiopian Government is committed to regional economic integration and doing well with Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and other countries in different sectors.

According to te state minister, the Ethiopian Government considers economic integration a key enabler of regional peace and stability.

The discussion between the two sides covered the current affairs of Sudan and regional peace and security issues, the information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia’s neutrality and diplomatic stance of working for mutual benefits and solutions has prevailed for a very long time, Institute of Foreign Affairs Senior Researcher Anteneh Getachew remarked today.

Although Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established in the early 1900s, historical records show that its diplomatic history exceeds those periods.

Even if the foreign policy of Ethiopia might have changes in focus due to the different governments in those periods, the country has been essentially pursuing impartial and mutually beneficial development policy.

Speaking to ENA, the senior researcher explained that Ethiopia’s diplomacy transcended ages promoting fairness and neutrality in the global diplomacy.

During the reign of the Zagwe Dynasty, for instance, even if the emperor of those days was asked to take sides in the Crusade fought between the European Christians and Arabs in the Middle East, he took a neutral stand, Anteneh said.

“Ethiopia has always been standing for its national int
erest,” he pointed out, adding that the nation’s neutral and diplomatic stance of working for mutual benefits and solutions has prevailed for a very long time.

Its recent membership to the BRICS is also part of Ethiopia pursuit for multi-lateral diplomatic relations in order to ensure its national interest and mutually beneficial development principle.

Ethiopia’s multilateral diplomacy policy is well known and widely cited in the field, the senior researcher noted.

Anteneh recalled that Ethiopia was the founding member of the League of Nations, the predecessor of the United Nations, in 1919; and also the founder of the former OAU.

Through multilateral diplomatic relations in the organizations, the country fought against the oppression of Blacks and Africans under colonialism beyond its interests.

He recalled that among the key provisions of the League of Nations, Ethiopia adhered to the principle of collective security to protect and defend the interest of developing countries that were under heavy infl
uence of the powerful countries.

The senior researcher mentioned the contribution of Emperor Haile Selassie’s speech at the League of Nations expressing his complaint against the League of Nations that did not condemn the aggression of Fascist Italy to the formation of the United Nations.

Therefore, Ethiopia has left an indelible mark in world diplomacy even when faced in its own difficulties, he added.

Ethiopia has also continued representing Africa on international diplomatic forums on issues like climate change and other diplomatic endeavors.

The senior researcher further noted that Ethiopia has pursued the major concepts of multilateral diplomatic relation in its foreign policy over time.

Ethiopia’s diplomacy did not develop overnight but is based on the nation’s past diplomatic achievements to determine the fate of the country over time, he elaborated.

The continuous changes in agenda and the expansion of digitalization have, however, posed a challenge to its diplomatic activities, Anteneh pointed
out.

Therefore, Ethiopia’s diplomacy must be up to date and based on give and take principle, he underscored.

According to him, Ethiopia has to promote its desire to maintain peace in the region, Africa and the world as well as for common economic benefits through diplomatic options.

The senior researcher further stated that Ethiopia should continue to expand and strengthen its strategic partnership with various countries.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia is committed to advancing its national interests through inclusive and diverse diplomacy on both bilateral and multilateral platforms, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Meles Alem remarked.

During his presser today, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Meles Alem said the Diplomacy Week is aimed at expanding and reinforcing Ethiopia’s diplomatic clout by enhancing inclusive engagement of the public in modern diplomatic activities.

Ambassador Meles also stated that the Diplomatic Week and Expo, which will take place beginning tomorrow, will give the public a better understanding of Ethiopia’s past, present, and future diplomacy, thereby enabling the public to contribute its fair share to the country’s diplomatic endeavors.

The event that exhibits Ethiopia’s history of diplomacy and current diplomatic achievements will be held from January 11 up to February 2, 2024, at the Science Museum in Addis Ababa.

Diplomatic exhibition that depicts Ethiopia’s history of diplomac
y and current diplomatic achievements on the bilateral and multilateral spheres, will also be open for public as part of the Diplomatic Week, he stated.

The event will inform and ignite inclusive public participation in this crucial domain.

Furthermore, six thought-provoking study papers, insightful panel discussions, and the launch of two new books will also be undertaken, the spokesperson indicated.

Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa apart from being Africa’s diplomatic and political hub, is also the third diplomatic seat.

Ambassador Meles reaffirmed that the Government will further strive to provide necessary services and take commensurate practical measures in order to further enhance the country’s reputation as one of the world’s largest diplomatic hubs.

The reputable position that Addis Ababa enjoys as one of the world’s major diplomatic centers is of great political, economic, and social significance, he added.

The diplomatic exhibition stands as a testament to Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthening
Addis Ababa’s position as a premier diplomatic hub, Meles stressed.

Diplomacy Week is, therefore, necessary to conduct diplomacy through the inclusive public participation for ensuring national interest of the country, he noted.

The diplomatic exhibition is more than a showcase of Ethiopia’s diplomatic history and current diplomatic achievements, but also aims to reinforce Ethiopia’s diplomatic clout by immersing the public in the dynamic world of modern diplomacy.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency