Egypt plans a new relation with Ethiopia that ensures a win win approach

April 28, 2011 (WIC) ­ - The Embassy of Egypt in Ethiopia disclosed that Egypt plans to begin a new approach to strengthen its relations with Ethiopia that could ensure a win win solution.

In his exclusive interview with WIC, Egyptian Ambassador in Ethiopia, Tarek Ghoneim said Egypt needs to begin a new chapter of relations with Ethiopia based on mutual benefits and common understanding.

“Let’s not look at the past. We need to turn the new page or chapter for a bright future of the people of Ethiopia and Egypt,” ambassador Ghoneim said.

The new government in Egypt planned to have a dialogue with Ethiopian officials and will sign the agreement if a win win solution is reached.

The ambassador also said that Egypt will collaborate to Ethiopia’s development efforts.

“There is no need to look back to the past rather it would be essential for the two countries to have a dialogue and start a new chapter of relations so that they could be benefited from the projects here in Ethiopia and in Egypt.

“In the next few years, the two countries will build positive and constructive relations with the good will and wise leadership of the two countries,” the ambassador said, adding that there is a big room for them to ensure developments with direct impacts on the people of Ethiopia and Egypt.

“We need to move into the future and need to look into a new phase of relations that could promote our development forgetting the past misconceptions,’ the ambassador said.

Regarding some reports about Egypt’s effort to force interference, he said that Egypt is a peace loving country that the reports by some irresponsible media and groups from both sides are groundless. He also added that Egypt never want to have that kind of conflict with Ethiopia.

The ambassador also said as Ethiopia contributes much of the water, Egypt wants Ethiopia to use the water to alleviate its poverty.

It will be cheaper for Egypt and other countries to buy electricity from Ethiopia, ambassador Tarek said, adding that Egypt will support Ethiopia’s move towards development

International law on trans-boundary River reaffirms Ethiopia’s stand

Amir Abdullah International law on trans-boundary River reaffirms Ethiopia’s stand
Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Addis Ababa, April 27 (WIC) – International law on the use of trans-boundary rivers very well supports Ethiopia’s stand, a high level legal and diplomatic expert said.

Ambassador Hailu W. Giorgis, who served as legal advisor in the former Organization of African Unity (OAU) and as state minister and head of African Unity Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), said that all riparian countries have the right to utilize water that flows through their territory without jeopardizing the water security of the countries downstream.

“The 1997 ruling of the International Court of Justice to resolve the dispute between Hungary and Slovakia supports Ethiopia’s stand on the use of the Nile River,” Ambassador Hailu told WIC in an exclusive interview.

In 1977 Hungary and Czechoslovakia concluded Treaty which provided for the construction of a major hydroelectric dam project on the Danube as a "joint investment". The case was taken to the ICJ when Hungary subsequently abandoned its part of the Project.

The Court, which found both parties as breaching their agreement, held that Hungary was not entitled to suspend and subsequently abandon the works and Czechoslovakia was entitled to proceed to the "provisional solution" which included damming the river at a different location. The Court also called on both states to negotiate in good faith and take all necessary measures in order to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the 1977 Budapest Treaty.

“All over the world including Africa international rivers are utilized with cooperation between riparian countries,” Ambassador Hailu said. “It is only the Nile River which was denied of such cooperation for a long time”.

After years of negotiations, the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) for equitable utilization of the Nile River was opened for signature last year. It has so far been signed by six of the riparian countries and awaits ratification in their domestic law.

“The utilization of the Nile River should no longer be presented as an issue of Egypt and Ethiopia only,” the Ambassador said. “Now, it also concerns the riparian countries who expressed their position by signing the agreement”.

Ambassador Hailu, who wrote a book (le abay wuha mugit) which deals with Ethiopia’s legal right to utilize the Nile River, finally urged the country to intensify its diplomatic efforts to shape the minds of ordinary Egyptians and the rest of the international community as to the benefits of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance dam which is being built on the Nile River.

President Obama Strategy. By Ryan Lizza, New Yorker

Embassy to host “Yes You (th) Can!” conference

Friday, 29 April 2011

Addis Ababa, April 29 (WIC) - The Embassy of the United States of America, in collaboration with the Addis Ababa Bureau of education, on Saturday will hold an all-day conference on volunteerism, community service and leadership for approximately 600 youth from Addis Ababa preparatory schools.

The conference, to be held under the theme: “Yes You (th) Can!”, will bring together 11th and 12th grade students from Addis Ababa to discuss the opportunities Ethiopian students have to be contributors and leaders in serving their schools, communities and country and world.

According to a statement the US Embassy sent to WIC today, environmental conservation and sustainability will be emphasized as areas in which youth have a particular stake and the ability to make a difference.

Guests expected to speak at the event include Addis Ababa Bureau of Education Head Dilamo Otore and U.S Deputy Chief of Mission Dr. Tulinabo Mushingi.

Eritrea Calls Ethiopia’s New Stance a ‘Declaration of War’
By William Davison - Apr 29, 2011 8:17 AM ET

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Eritrea criticized Ethiopia’s new stance on relations between the two countries as “pure aggression and a declaration of war” and denied it supports terrorism.

Ethiopia’s government on April 15 announced it will increase support to Eritrean rebels seeking to overthrow the government of President Isaias Afewerki. The country will use “any means at its disposal” to bring about regime change unless the Eritrean government changes its policies, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said.

The two countries fought a 1998-2000 border war that killed 70,000 people, according to Brussels-based International Crisis Group. Relations between the two have remained tense as each backed opposing factions in nearby Somalia’s civil war. Skirmishes between Ethiopian and Eritrean troops occasionally break out along their 912-kilometer (567-mile) border. Ethiopia previously accused Eritrea of supporting Ethiopian rebels and al-Qaeda-linked insurgents in neighboring Somalia.

“Eritrea does not have an agenda of destabilizing Ethiopia or the region,” Girma Asmerom, Eritrea’s ambassador to the African Union, said to the 53-member continental bloc’s security panel on April 26.

Accusations of Eritrean support for terrorism are “fabricated and baseless,” he said. “It is not in our psyche, our culture, our philosophy, our upbringing, our value and our history to attack civilian targets, victimize and terrorize innocent people.”

Bombing Attempt

In February, Ethiopia said it foiled an attempt by the rebel Oromo Liberation Front to bomb an AU summit in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the front.

Eritrea’s “destabilization activities against other countries in the region, including Ethiopia, continue unabated,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Eritrea has been under United Nations sanctions since December 2009 for its alleged support of terrorists fighting to topple the Western-backed government of Somalia. Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry says the sanctions are “unjustifiable.”

The international community should condemn the aggression by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government and call for its withdrawal from Eritrean territory, Girma said.

Isaias and Meles led allied rebel groups that overthrew Ethiopia’s Communist Derg regime in 1991. Eritrea, formerly an Ethiopian province, won independence after a 1993 referendum. A 2002 decision by a United Nations commission that the disputed town of Badme is Eritrean has been rejected by Ethiopia.

“Eritrea is ready to normalize relations with Ethiopia” if Ethiopia vacates its territory, Girma said.

To contact the reporter on this story: William Davison in Addis Ababa via Nairobi at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.

Addis Ababa, April 29, 2011 (Addis Ababa) - The House of Peoples' Representatives said Mass Media and Freedom of Information has been maintained in the country.
Speaking at the opening of a relevant awareness raising forum organized for parliamentarians here on Friday, Culture, Tourism and Mass Media Affairs Standing Committee Chairperson of the House, Rabia Essa said the constitution has ensured freedom of speech and expression of citizens.

The constitution has fully brought to an end the practice censorship, which she said helped to ensure freedom of mass media.

Rabia said the government has been undertaking various activities including preparation of relevant proclamations to implement freedom of speech and expression ensured in the constitution.

The Mass Media and Freedom of Information Proclamation as well as broadcasting proclamation are some of the major activities carried out by the government towards the same goal.

The Chairperson said the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority has been undertaking encouraging activities towards development of the mass media.

Realization of community radio in the country is one of the major activities carried out by the authority, she said, and stressed the need to give prime attention to expansion of community radio as most of the people live in rural parts of the country.

The day-long forum , organized by the Authority, discussed on concept of community radio, legal frameworks of mass media and importance of community radio, among others.

Addis Ababa, April 29, 2011 (Addis Ababa) - Egyptian public diplomatic delegation consisting of 38 members drawn from various sectors of the society arrived here on Friday for a four-day visit.
The delegation is expected to confer with higher level officials of the country on issues related to the equitable utilization of River Nile.

Delegation Coordinator, Mustafa El-Gundy said former Egyptian leaders ignored the necessity to create diplomatic relation with other African nations.

He said the new Egyptian administration is desirous to strengthen the relation with African countries.

Mustafa said all the Nile riparian countries have the right to develop and exploit the river equitably and expressed belief that the Nile riparian countries need to work together to develop the river and ensure equal utilization.

Most of the Egyptians do not accept the 1929 and 1959 agreement signed between Egypt, Sudan and Britain over the river Nile.

Wafd Party President, Dr. Sayd El-Badawi on his part said the aim of the visit is to re-establish the people-to-people relation between the two countries.

He said the Egyptian people support Ethiopia's efforts to develop and exploit the Nile.

Member of Youth Coalition of the Egyptian Revolution, Dr. Sally Moore said the Mubarak administration separated Egypt from other African countries.

According to her, the aim of the visit is to display Egypt's commitment to re-establish and strengthen the diplomatic ties with the African countries.

Majority of the youth, who participated in the revolution to overthrow Mubarak, support Ethiopia's right to develop and exploit the river, she said.

Son of the late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, Hakim Abdel-Nasser on his part said the delegation is here to discuss with Ethiopians on the equal utilization of the Nile.

The visit will also strengthen the people to people relation between the two countries, he said.

According to Ethiopian Ambassador to Egypt, Mohamoud Dirir

, the delegation consists of the three presidential candidates, community leaders, judges, former MPs, youth representatives, among others.

The delegation will meet with President Girma Woldegiorgis, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Orthodox Church Patriarch, Abune Paulos as well as Speakers of the House of Peoples' Representatives and also the House of Federation.

T:1:20-2:00PM

E:3:20-3:25PM

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