Month: May 2023

The Prosperity Party has carried out major activities that enhance nation-state building following the direction given by the strong and legitimate leadership of the party, Vice President Adem Farah said.

The party will continue strengthening and building the leadership of the party so that the political, social, economic and diplomatic activities started can continue successfully, he added.

In the statement he gave to ENA at the conclusion of the two-day PP Executive Committee meeting, the leadership conducted in-depth discussion on various issues.

Accordingly, the executive committee has set directions in political, social, economic and diplomatic activities.

With regard to the political sector, the vice president said that the efforts exerted to solve fundamental national issues through the National Dialogue Commission in a democratic manner were successful.

He added that the Prosperity Party will play its role as a party for the holding of an inclusive dialogue to reach national consensus.

The party has created a spirit of cooperation to establish a democratic system in Ethiopia by involving competing political parties which differ from it in ideology and policy in the government structure, he noted, adding that the effort would continue unabated.

In order to create a lasting peace in Ethiopia, the vice president stated that commendable results have been gained in terms of building free and independent security, intelligence and democratic institutions for the benefit of the people.

The executive committee has also positively evaluated the efforts to establish lasting peace through combining modern and traditional methods of conflict resolution with those who were engaged in armed struggle.

Extremist bodies, which intend to meet group and individual needs by force in Ethiopia, are threatening our multinational unity, Adem said, adding that respecting the freedom of others is essential to exercise own freedom.

The executive committee has also set a direction stressing the importance ensuring the rule of law and constitutionalism, maintaining complete peace, and strengthening justice and security institutions.

Speaking about the economic sector, the vice president explained that the executive committee reviewed that an inclusive economy is being built in terms of ensuring fair development during the last 10 months.

He mentioned the results registered in the productivity of wheat production with a view to maintaining the multi-sector economic system where impressive results are recorded in wheat productivity.

In “Let’s Ethiopia Produce,” a national campaign that intends to solve the problems of the industrial sector, encouraging results have been achieved through increasing productivity and creating market linkages, he noted.

Adem also indicated the ‘ Dine for the Nation’ and other projects, were able to stimulate the tourism sector and create 2.4 million jobs in nine months; and this achievement will continue to be strengthened.

The Party executive committee has also set direction to take strong measures to reduce the role of non-value-added actors in the producers-consumers chain, preventing contrabandists with a view to stabilizing inflation.

He stated that in realizing inclusive prosperity and developing social system, encouraging results have been achieved in education, health, youth and women empowerment.

Stating that mutual benefits and productive diplomatic activities have registered results, priority has been given to neighboring countries in creating economic integration and boosting people-to-people relations, he noted this will be continued in a strengthening manner.

In preserving our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we were able to overcome the pressure of some elements following the war in the northern part of the country, he said.

As the principle of African solution to African problems has recorded results, it will be strengthened.

In the future, we will pursue balanced and inclusive diplomatic works to maintain our interests, he said adding we will continue to overcome the pressure and expand our allies.

To maintain the successful accomplishments of the ongoing political, social, economic and diplomatic activities, Prosperity Party will continue filtering, strengthening and building the leadership, he said.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnon’s official working visit to China further strengthens the friendship and cooperation between Ethiopia and China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.

In a bi-weekly press briefing he gave to local and Addis Ababa based media on diplomatic activities and engagements of Ethiopia, Ambassador Meles Alem said that DPM and Foreign Minister Demeke’s visit to China was successful.

Ambassador Meles said the five-day diplomatic tour demonstrated the fast growing Ethiopia-China ties, especially in the areas of investment, trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and technology transfer.

The inauguration of a newly inaugurated Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing is indicative of this trajectory, he added.

The visit was indicative that China is Ethiopia’s most important ally and that they have reached an agreement to bolster friendship in the fields of politics and diplomacy, he said.

“I would like to say that the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen has enhanced the relationship between Ethiopia and China, and brought the friendship and cooperation to a higher level,” he said.

During this visit, Demeke had extensive discussions with Vice President of China, the Foreign Minister, the administrations of Guangdong Province and the Mayor of Guangzhou and various investors.”

He added that the two countries reached better understanding on cooperation on international and the Horn of Africa issues.

During his stay in China, Demeke held discussions with senior officials of the Chinese government and investors, which further strengthens the historical relationship between the two countries that lasted for more than 50 years.

“The relationship between Ethiopia and China is 52 years old. Because we wanted to have a representative and embassy chancellery that fits this relationship, a newly built Ethiopian Embassy and Chancellery was inaugurated in China,” Meles said.

The visits and diplomatic activity which lasted for five days gave an opportunity to further strengthen the friendship of the two countries that lasted for more than 50 years,” the ambassador added.

The ambassador said successful discussion was held with 300 Chinese companies on potential investment opportunities in Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Third Meeting of the Expanded Mechanism on the Sudan Crisis discussed today the implementation of the African Union Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan.

During the opening session, African Union Commission Conflict Management Directorate, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Director Sarjoh Bah said the AU has been working on a number of issues since the last meeting on 2nd May, 2023.

It has convened two meetings on the trilateral mechanism in order to agree on the way forward, and also held a meeting of all humanitarian organizations working in Sudan to discuss how to cooperate, he added.

“This third meeting of the expanded mechanism is the first engagement we are undertaking following the PSC summit level meeting that took place on Saturday, to share the outcome of the meeting and to discuss the way forward,” the director stated.

Bah further stated that AU is embarking on a tour of regional capitals to express concerns about the crisis in Sudan, and the potential impact on the neighboring states and the continent as a whole if the fighting is not arrested immediately and an inclusive political process is allowed to start.

At the last meeting, it was agreed that the AU would consult to put in place a Core Group that would guide the work of the international community in addressing the Sudan crisis.

The director said that the AU is now ready to convene the Core Group in the coming week.

“While doing that, we need to start planning and preparing for the inclusive negotiations on a political process, one which would address both the immediate and long-term causes of the Sudanese crisis.”

While disagreements over the reform of the security sector did provide the immediate trigger for the conflict, Sudan and the Sudanese need to address the systemic grievances that date back decades.

The African Union is working to support such an inclusive political process, which would allow for the full representation of the voices of all sectors of Sudanese civil society and political parties, Bah elaborated.

Deputy Head of Office UNOAU and Director of Political Affairs, Gérald Mitchell said the UN fully endorses the demand that the Sudanese warring parties in this conflict resume a political process that will yield a democratic outcome in line with the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people without delay.

Building on the work we have done in the trilateral mechanism, Mitchell pointed out that “the United Nations remains committed to working closely with the African Union and regard as we pursue a permanent ceasefire, facilitation of humanitarian access, and providing support to the Sudanese actors in preparing the ground to the right moment to return to civilian democratic rule.”

IGAD Permanent Representative to the African Union, Maureen Achieng said the authority is steadfastly committed to fostering peace in Sudan and the broader region.

“We are by now well aware of the ongoing efforts by IGAD Member States, the African Union, and the international community at large to address the situation in Sudan and bring the warring parties to the negotiating table.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency