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Newsletter 10 |
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Government Finalizes Five-Year Target Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says government has finalized preparation of the Five-Year Development Plan. Meles also said the executive body has been preoccupied with activities aimed at implementing objectives for peace, democracy and development over the past two months. The Premier said particular attention was given to ward off war with Eritrea and to seek peaceful and lasting solution to the border dispute between the two countries. Presenting a two-month performance report at the 9 th regular session of the House of Peoples' Representatives, Meles said rigorous efforts have been deployed to complete the preparation of the five-year development target while tasks were undertaken to implement the annual plan. Vigorous efforts were also made over the past two months to promote the cause of peace along side steps taken to expediting the democratization process. The executive has been preoccupied with the implementation of the peace, democracy and development objectives the ruling party vowed to achieve during the run up to the elections, Meles said. Says the Prime Minister on the stalemate with Eritrea: "Since the moment is one in which the Eritrean government has taken measures aggravating the tense situation in the border areas and is beating the war drum, it has become appropriate and essential that the issue gets a serious attention than any time before." Speaking of the hard-liner leaders of CUD, Meles stressed that the role of the government will from now on be executing with immediate effect the decisions of the court. The issue, he said, hereafter is the issue of the court, and the opposition has long boycotted the political solution it now proposes. |
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Federal Police Remains Vigilant The Federal Police Commissioner Workneh Gebeyehu said the federal police remains resolute to safeguard the constitution. Workneh told MoFA Newsletter that the federal police takes a stern legal measure against any party or individual that breaches the constitution and laws of the nation. The Voice of America, Deutch Welle and some websites are engaged in a smear campaign against the federal police despite the humane treatment of detainees by the police says the commissioner. He added, the federal police was able to contain the street protest under challenging environment with the support of the public and all stakeholders. The capture of those wanted by the police indicates that their claim of support from the general public was unfounded, he said, and expressed appreciation for all the cooperation and tip offs. The Federal Police said reports of indiscriminate killings and multiple usages of blades at Dedesa and Zwai temporary detention camps are unfounded and morally unacceptable. |
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China, Japan Consolidate Ties with Ethiopia Ethiopia's bilateral relation with Japan and China is further consolidated as the country observes the 50th and 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the two countries, respectively. Acting General Director of the Asia, Australasia and Middle East General Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Addis Dilnesa, told MoFA Newsletter that Ethiopia has been closely working with Japan and China more than ever before since the overthrow of the Dergue regime. While marking the anniversary, the two countries have reiterated their commitment to deepen ties with Ethiopia and continue to extend support to the ongoing development endeavors. The country's development oriented and human centered policies, he said, could initiate the involvement of nations like Japan and China in the conception and implementation of various projects through technical and economic cooperation. " Remarkable development has been witnessed in the bilateral ties between Ethiopia and China over the last 14 years cemented by high level visits headed by the leaders of the two countries," he said. According to Addis, Japan is a big economic and technical cooperation partner to Ethiopia contributing some 40-50 million dollars per year to the nation's development efforts. Speaking on the significance of the inauguration of the Japanese Garden in the Ethiopian National Palace, he said, built in the 1960s, it symbolizes the amicable and historical relations of the two countries. |
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Some 90 Italian Investors Operate In Ethiopia Some 90 Italian investors have launched business in different areas of investment taking advantage of the country's investment opportunity. A recent document prepared by the Europe and American Affairs Directorate General of MOFA indicated, that some 90 investors have already been engaged in various business activities. It added Italy is believed to be one of the potential sources of investment for Ethiopia. Ethiopia and Italy have a friendly bilateral relation which has been gaining momentum from time to time and their trade relationship is showing improvement, the document pointed out. Hide and skin, coffee, cereals, and textile products are some of the trade items that Ethiopia exports to Italy. The Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement signed between the two countries is believed to further strengthen trade relationships. |
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Three Million People Benefit from Water, Sanitation Projects The Ministry of Water Resources has undertaken water provision and sanitation projects benefiting three million people. The projects were executed in 3,700 rural centers and 50 towns in the previous fiscal year. According to the Public Relations and Information service of the Ministry the money for implementation of the projects was secured from the World Bank in assistance and loan. According to the Ministry, 3,872 trainees were also trained in small-scale irrigation, rural potable water and electro mechanical sectors in eight vocational centers across the nation. Meanwhile the Ministry says it is conducting a study to set up hydroelectric power (HEP) stations to exploit major rivers of the country. The stations will be built to tap the waters of Boro, Genale, Wabesheblle rivers, among others. |
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Commission Approves 155 Investment Projects The Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) approved 155 Indian owned investment projects. The Indian Embassy in Ethiopia said Indian entrepreneurs with a total capital of nearly 298 million dollars are engaged in various investment sectors. It said among the licensed companies 104 are in the construction phase while 36 have gone operational. The companies are involved in manufacturing, floriculture and information technology. Out of the total,51 are joint ventures. |