Major Events

Newsletter 14

What Happened?

April 5, 2006- Somalia reopens its Embassy in Addis Ababa. Prime Minister of the Transitional Government of Somalia professor Ali Mohamed Gedi at the ceremony said, "The re-opening of the Embassy marks the end of the artificial misunderstanding and animosity that used to be between Somalia and Ethiopia."

April 5, 2006- An international conference aiming at facilitating ways of implementing a strategy that would help reduce poverty, create job opportunity and improved social services in urban setting was held here in Addis.

April 6-7, 2006- A two-day African Union (AU) Ministerial Meeting on the African Draft Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance as well as the Lome Declaration was conducted at the AU conference hall.

April 8, 2006- Prime Minister Meles Zenawi met and held talks with Gobind Nakani, Vice- President for the African Region of the World Bank, on relations between Ethiopia and the World Bank.

April 11, 2006- An international Conference on Great Lakes Region(IC/GLR) took place here at AU Headquarters with the participation of the regional economic communities that include the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and other organizations.

April 11, 2006- African leaders and officials met here to make 2006 as the "Year of accelerated HIV prevention". The event, held under AU auspices, was aimed at boosting efforts to combat the pandemic which has claimed 22 million lives in Africa. 

April 17, 2006- President Girma Wolde-Giorgis said that the multi-dimensional relations between Ethiopia and China are being strengthened. The president said this while conferring with vice chairperson of the standing committee of the National People's Congress of China, He Luli.

April 19, 2006- Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks with a delegation of US Sensators led by Senate Banking and Urban Affairs Committee chairman Senator Richard Shelby and exchanged views on ways of strengthening relations between Ethiopia and the US as well as other issues of common interest.

April 22, 2006- The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Donald Yamamoto said the US government has a positive outlook toward the ongoing democratization process in Ethiopia. Yamamoto said this while conferring with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

April 25, 2006- Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia had been doing its level best to put in place a democratic order in the Country. The Prime Minister gave the assurance while holding discussions with the UN High Commissioner form Human Rights, Louis Arbour.

April 27, 2006- A three -day Ethio-Niogeria joint Ministerial Commission meeting was held here in Addis and various cooperation agreements were singed between Nigerian Foreign Minister Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji and his Ethiopia counter part Seyoum Mesfin.

April 28, 2006- The India-Africa project partnership conclave has been launched.

At the opening of the project Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said trade relations between India and Africa is vital for economic changes in the continent.

April 29, 2006- Japanese Prime Minister Junichro Koizumi paid a two day visit in Ethiopia in a first leg of his African and Scandinavian trip.

May 8, 2006- Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin held talks with his Somalian counterpart, Abdulahi Sheikh Ismail. During the talk it has been stated that the relation between Ethiopia and Somalia has been gaining momentum from time to time.

May 12, 2006- President Girma Wolde-Giorgis, has met an European Union parliamentary delegation and announced that the government has achieved commendable result in its effort launched to expand health, education and other social activates.

May 12, 2006- Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin held talks with Mohameud Musa Hersi, President of punt land state of Somalia Transitional Federal government.

May 25, 2006- A three day conference on utilizing ICTs for Development, Training and Education marked under the theme E-Learning Africa.

May 28, 2006- President Girma Wolde-Giorgis delivered a message in connection with the 15 ^th anniversary of May 28 victory Day. The President in his speech said, the day has created favorable conditions to the development of the national economy besides the demoralization process in the country.

 What is in Store ?

12-14, June 2006- International Conference on “Strategies for Peace with Development in Africa: The Role of Education, Training   and research” will be held here in Addis.

12-14, June 2006- The 1^st meeting of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Right will kick off in Addis Ababa.

12-14, June 2006- Meeting co-organized by the African Union and University for       Peace will be held at the AU Headquarters.

14, June 2006 –Meeting of Infrastructure Consortium for Africa will be held in the metropolis.

14-15, June 2006- Conference of African Ministers of Information and Communication “For the establishment of the Pan-African Radio and Television” will be held in Addis Ababa

15-17, June 2006-Ninth Annual Conference on Global economic Analysis will kick off here at the Economic Commission for Africa.

20, June 2006-  Commemoration of Africa Refugee Day.