Newsletter 14
Parliament Endorses Blueprint for Development
House Endorses Premier's Report on Proposed Addis Care-Taker Government
Caretaker Government to Focus on Development
'Africa is transforming itself from "the home of issues" to the home of self endeavor" ' Prime Minister Koizumi
Seyoum : Ethio-Nigerian Relations Exemplary
The Sana'a Cooperation Forum Agrees to Establish Secretariat
Somalia Sees Ethiopia as Vital for Peace
Parliament Endorses Blueprint for Development
The House of Peoples’ Representatives endorsed the government's five-year plan-the Plan for Accelerated and Sustainable Development (PASDEP)-after a two-week deliberation and debate on the document.
Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi has called on all stake holders to join forces for the
successful implementation of the plan, which is mapped out to bring about
leapfrog in the country’s development in a sustainable manner.
The development plan mainly focuses on eight pillars: building all-round execution capacity, bringing rapid and broad-based as well as sustainable economic growth, balancing economic growth with population, enabling women to make use of their potential and enhancing infrastructural development.
Speaking
at the 21st regular session of the House, which brought the fortnight
discussion and debates to a successful conclusion, Prime Minster Meles
Zenawi said that double digit annual economic growth would be possible in
the coming four years provided all sections of the society stand diligent
for the plan’s implementation, to further the good results registered over
the past
the successive three years.
The plan was tabled for discussion with the view to bring about general consensus on the document by all the MPs including the opposition, so as to speed up implementation by embracing the strategy as a common national agenda.
According to the Prime Minister, the economic growth achieved over the past three years was not the result of rains, but the unstinted efforts of the farmers. He said it was constructive that the development plan was debated upon in detail by MPs representing the opposition.
Members of the opposition on their part accepted the need for joint efforts towards the realization of the plan at the grass roots level.
Prime Minister Meles and officials of line ministries have elaborated on questions raised by members of the opposition.
House Endorses Premier's Report on Proposed Addis Care-Taker Government
The House of Peoples' Representatives endorsed the report presented by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi concerning the implementation of an earlier decision passed by the House to fill the power vacuum in Addis Ababa City Government.
The premier's report pertains to the resolution passed by the House during its 17th regular session held on March 28, 2006. Meles said the Interim Administration that has so far been administering the city would gradually hand over its power to the newly appointed provisional care -taker government as of Tuesday, May 9, 2 006.
The Prime Minister appointed Berhanu Deresa, who has 35 years of experience in diplomatic and civil service, as Mayor of the Addis Ababa City Provisional Care-Taker Administration.
He also read out the names and credentials of the eight cabinet members and the general manager appointed to administer the city. Accordingly, Dr. Alemnesh Wolde Endashaw, Yitbarek Befirdu Belihu, Muluneh Worddofa, Sherif Keri, Hagos Hailu Medhane, Berhanu Woldetensae, Misgnaw Argaw and Bekele Fula have been appointed as cabinet members of the care-taker administration. Meles also said Dr. Woubishet Berhanu has been appointed as General Manager of the Addis Ababa City.
The Prime Minister said as decided earlier by the House, the one-year care-taker administration would primarily be engaged in economic and social development activities, and will fully exercise its power as provided in the City's Charter according to which the Prime Minister appoints officials of sub-cities, while sub-city officials on their part will designate Kebele leadership.
Prime Minister Meles said the appointed professionals are not members of any political party, and they were selected based on their professional merits. He said they will be guided in their activities by the Charter of the Addis Ababa City.
Caretaker Government to Focus on Development
The Mayor's Office of the Addis Ababa Caretaker Administration called on city residents to join forces for the success of its development undertaking.
Addis Ababa Caretaker Administration has assumed office for one year tenure with a nine-member cabinet and a general manager. The federal government has appointed Birhanu Deresa, former Ethiopian diplomat and World Bank employee, mayor of Addis Ababa.
The administration assumed power after the House of Peoples' Representatives (HPR) endorsed the report by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi concerning decision passed by the former to fill the power vacuum in Addis Ababa.
Care taker Government Cabinet Members
|
Dr. Alemnesh Wolde |
Head of Health Bureau |
|
Ato Misganaw Argaw |
Head of Information and Culture Bureau |
|
Ato Muluneh Wordofa |
Head of Justice and Legal Affairs Bureau |
|
Ato Bekele Fula |
Head of Capacity Building Bureau |
|
Ato Sherif Kere |
Head of Mayor's Office |
|
Ato Berhanu Wolde-Tensae |
Head of Finance and Economic Development |
|
Ato Yitbarek Befrdu |
Head of Trade and Industry Development Bureau |
|
Ato Hagos Hailu |
Head of Education Bureau |
|
Dr. Engineer Wubshet Berhanu |
City General Manager |
'Africa is transforming itself from "the home of issues" to the home of self endeavor" ' Prime Minister Koizumi
The Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced that Africa is transforming itself from "the Home of Issues to" the
''Home of self
Endeavor" in a speech he delivered to members of AU on
1 May 2006
in Addis, on the occasion of his visit to Ethiopia.
He recalled his announcement at the Asian African summit last year in April that Japan would double its official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa in the three years to come.
Japan will focus its ODA in areas in which African countries identify problems and strive to solve them on their own where ownership of Africa exists, he said.
He also pointed out that on this viewpoint, Japan has established the three crucial pillars of TICAD which are" consolidation of peace"," poverty reduction through economic growth,'' and" human -centered development'',
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi with
Japanese Premier Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Concerning his country's economic situation, the Prime Minister said that owing to his structural reforms, the economy of Japan is now on a sustainable recovery track led by private -sector demand.
In connection with UN Security Council reform," We must realize UN Security Council reform without delay, so that African voice is heard more in the Security Council," he explained.
According to him, Japan also wants to enhance its cooperation with African countries in meeting new challenges faced by the entire international community, such as global environmental issues and energy security.
Seyoum : Ethio-Nigerian Relations Exemplary
Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the on-going bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia in various fields is an exemplary one for South-South cooperation.
While opening the Ethio-Nigerian Joint Ministerial Commission meeting held here from 26 - 29 April 2006, Seyoum said that the bilateral cooperation between Ethiopia and Nigeria particularly in the technical field has shown the highest improvement.
Currently, 16 voluntary Nigerian teachers are serving in different colleges and secondary schools based on the Technical Aid Corps scheme (TAC), bilateral agreement signed between the two countries.
He however underlined the need to further bolster the economic and trade cooperation between the two sisterly countries.
Seyoum handing over a token to his
Nigerian counterpart
Expanding market opportunities for their products and encouraging investment by creating the necessary means and ways are imperative.
The Nigerian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, on his part said Ethiopia and Nigeria have the greatest markets as well as huge natural and human resources.
Should the political relations of the two countries further develop in trade and investment, both benefit from their bilateral cooperation, Foreign Minister Adeniji said.
The Sana'a Cooperation Forum Agrees to Establish Secretariat
Members of the Sana'a Cooperation Forum namely Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia agreed to establish the Secretariat of the Forum in Sana'a, capital of Yemen.
According to the Ethiopian embassy in Yemen following their regular meeting the Foreign Ministers of the member states have agreed to form the secretariat.
The meeting dwelt on the recent socio-political conditions of member countries, and assessed the peace process in Somalia, with a view to enable the creation of sustainable peace and stability in the region.
The Forum appreciated the good will and readiness of the Sudanese government to solve the Darfur crisis peacefully. It also underlined the importance of strengthening and implementing the political, economic, and security agreements reached among member states.
Sana'a Forum agreed to start a new cooperation in education and social affairs. It also instructed the economic committee of the Forum to finish and bring to the table the free trade agreement proposal for the next summit.
The Forum called upon countries of the southern Red Sea region to join the Forum, and wished prosperity and peace for the region.
Somalia Sees Ethiopia as Vital for Peace
Ambassador of the
Republic
of
Somalia to Ethiopia Abdukarin Farah says
Ethiopia, working as member of the Inter Governmental
Authority for Development (IGAD), is the driving force for all inclusive
peace in
Somalia.
Ambassador Abdukarin told MoFA Newsletter that the re-opening of the Somali embassy in Ethiopia symbolizes the monumental relations of the two peoples.
The embassy re-opened in the political capital of Africa, Addis Ababa, would help the government to have easy access to the rest of the world.
Somalis consider Ethiopia as their home country, he said, adding that both countries share long frontiers and blood.
Abdukarin said the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is giving training to disarm militias for sustainable peace in the country.
The Transitional Government has managed to peacefully reach out all regions except Mogadishu and the government is visible says Abdukarin Farah.
H.E. Amb. Abdukarin Farah
Ethio-Japanese Ties Reach a New High
Japan and Ethiopia have expressed their commitment to further enhance bilateral cooperation during the official visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Ethiopia.
Koizumi and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held discussions on bilateral and international issues.
Koizumi, during his official visit addressed African diplomats residing here and met the chairperson of the AU, professor Alpha Omar Konare. In his speech the Japanese premier underscored that Japan would continue supporting Africa in consolidation of peace, poverty reduction through economic growth and human centered development.
Prime Minister Koizumi said, being the seat of African Union (AU), Ethiopia has an important role for Africa's development.
The Government of Japan has been providing a meaningful support over the last fifteen years to Ethiopia's development endeavors.
A document released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Japan has been providing development aid and technical cooperation which has been instrumental for the implementation of various projects.
The development aid extended by Japan until the year 2005 was over 72.4 billion yen. The already completed Addis Ababa - GohaTsion and the on-going GohaTsion-Dejen road project including the renovation of the Abay bridge are among the ventures that are financed by Japan.
EEPCO to Boost Electricity Coverage
The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation /EEPCO/ says it plans to increase the national electric coverage.
Sendeku Araya, Public Relations Head with the Corporation, told MoFA Newsletter that a five-year plan is expected to increase electric coverage from the current 17 to 50 percent in 2002 E.C.
Sendeku said the number of electrified towns will also rise from 900 to 6000 in the specified time.
The Cooperation is undertaking the construction of Gilgel Gibe II, Tekeze and Belesa hydropower projects with over 10 billion birr secured from government and donors.
When the construction of the three projects is finalized it will be possible to generate 1,188 MW and export electric power to neighboring countries such as Sudan and Djibouti.
Sendeku who noted that power generation capacity at the national level stands now at 791 MW said, the capacity will be raised to 20,018 MW in five years.