Ethiopia to deploy over 3,000 peacekeeping force in Abyei

Addis Ababa, June 22- Ethiopia said on Tuesday that it will send a peace keeping mission to the Sudan’s contested region of Abyei after North and South Sudan on Monday signed an agreement in Addis Ababa-agreement to fully demilitarise the central region and allow in an Ethiopian peacekeeping force.The two Sudanese sides agreed in principle on the need for a third party to monitor the border between North and South Sudan as the later approaches independence on 9 July.According to the latest agreement signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which is seen by both North and South Sudan as honest broker will deploy a peacekeeping force of over 3,000 soldiers to ensure border security, including policing a demilitarised border zone that the sides have already agreed to.“Ethiopia will deploy one brigade - around 3,200 - troops to Abyei after both North and South Sudan fully withdraw their forces from the region’’ Ambassador Dina Mufti, Ethiopia foreign affairs spokesperson told Sudan Tribune.North Sudan’s military took the oil-producing area by force in May in response to attacks on its convoys that were being escorted by the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). The South and the UN Security Council condemned the Sudan Armed Forces occupation of the contested region. “On the agreement the African Union (AU) and the United Nations are asked to make sure the Abyei region gets demilitarised to allow Ethiopian forces move in” he added. Both Khartoum and Juba have commended the Ethiopian government for the role it played in the peace process."Particularly the Ethiopian government has been instrumental in bringing in the two sides together and showing readiness to take honest responsibility of being there to secure Abyei and make sure the two sides are going to accept," a representative from North Sudan told journalists right after the agreement was signed."The role of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi personally and the role of the Ethiopian government has been very crucial to this process," he added. Representatives from South Sudan similarly hailed the Ethiopian government for the relentless and diplomatic efforts it exerted to peacefully resolve the conflict. The agreement comes less than three weeks before the South Sudan will become an independent state making it the world’s 193rd nation.(source.. waltainfo.com)

Gondar City has been formally selected to be a sister city to Montgomery County, Maryland

Amir Abdulla
June 17, 2011

Montgomery County, Maryland, USA Officially Selects Gondar, Ethiopia as a sister City
Therefore, the selection of Gondar, Ethiopia was based on these criteria, Montgomery County-Africa Sister City Committee arrived here is the copy of the letter that is part of the approval Read it it is worth it..this link is the approval letter... http://aigaforum.com/news/Gondar_Sister_City_Approval_Letter.pdf


OFFICES OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Isiah Leggett Timothy L.

Firestine County Executive Ch:'efAdm1'm'strative Qfiicer

Montgomery County Sister Cities Board Members,

Five months ago, you gave the Afiican Affairs Advisory Group the task to select one country and one cityin Africa to be Montgomery County’s first Afirica Sister City. These were the steps we required all the localAfrica communities in Montgomery County who wanted their cities in Africa to become the first SisterCity with Montgomery County. The African Affairs Advisory Group developed a questionnaire forcommunity groups and sent representatives to community meetings in order to explain the criteria listedbelow. Therefore, the selection of Gondar, Ethiopia was based on these criteria, which help theMontgomery County-Africa Sister City Committee arrived to the finial decision.1. The Ethiopian Community was the first to schedule a community meeting and encourage as many people(Diaspora and friends off) to come and be apart of the process.2. When the meeting was scheduled, the Ethiopian Community invited a member from the MontgomeryCounty - Africa Sister City Committee to attend and went over the criteria.3. The questionnaires in support of Ethiopia were filled out at the community meetingsMONTGOMERY COUNTY SISTER CITIES BOARD SELECTION COMMITTEE CRITERIAThese are the Montgomery County Sister Cities Board selection criteria and the African Affairs AdvisoryGroup assessed through the five months process, that the Ethiopian Community met these criteria also.l. Ethiopia has a substantial ethnic presence in the County and are ready to partner with the county.2. The Ethiopian Community is ready for a Long Term Relationship3. The Ethiopian Community is ready to obtain appropriate governrnent approvals in Ethiopia to partnerwith the Montgomery County Sister Cities Organization4. The Ethiopian Community has outlined identifiable benefits in the areas of Culture, Education, andEconomic Development for Montgomery County and Gondar, Ethiopia.5. The Ethiopian Community has the capacity and accountability needed for both financial and on sitemonitoring, which are very important for any project agreed uponThe African Affairs Advisory Group is proud of the work that was done by the Ethiopian StudentAssociation and gladly recommends Gondar, Ethiopia to be Montgomery County’s first Africa Sister City.

Speech made by H.E. Wzr/o Azeb Mesfin on the occasion of First Spouses on the Elimination of HIV in Children in New York, 8th June 2011

H.E. Wzr/o Azeb Mesfin
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Mrs. Ban Soon-tuk,
Dr Michel Sidibe,
Your Excellencies the First Ladies,
Distinguished Guests,
I am honored to be here today and would like to thank Dr. Sidibe for organizing this very important meeting.
Dr. Sidibe has been a tireless supporter of our organization and we, the First Ladies of Africa, are grateful for both the financial and moral support he has given us over the years.
Mrs. Ban Soon-tuk has given generously of her time and has addressed the OAFLA General Assembly on two occasions. Thank you, Mrs. Ban.
I am pleased to see so many First Ladies form around the world at this meeting.
Your attendance shows not only your concern for this issue but your readiness commit to achieving virtual elimination of mother-to- child transmission of HIV. As President of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS, the elimination of HIV in children is at the top of our agenda.
Let me begin by telling you a little bit about OAFLA. Nine years ago, 37 African First Ladies gathered in Geneva to mobilize ourselves in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As First Ladies, we had a responsibility to be a powerful voice for Africa's most vulnerable-women and children.
We created this organization-OAFLA-to advocate, mobilize resources, and create partnerships to help those infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. Since then, we have taken this idea and institutionalized our organization to fight against this powerful foe.
We believe that only by empowering women we can make sure that they have enough food, a decent place to live, are free from violence and disease, deliver their babies safely, and stand alongside men equally and confidently. Today, we are here at this UN High Level Meeting to recommit ourselves to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission by 2015. It is a goal within reach. How do we do this? How do we make a future where no woman dies while giving life and no child is born with HIV?
One thing we have learned is that the collective voice of women is powerful. And as First Ladies, we have the attention of not just our country but the international community at large. What can we do, then?
We can organize ourselves both regionally and internationally as a collective voice to eliminate HIV in children. On a global level, we can advocate on behalf of UNAIDS goal of eliminating new infections among children by 2015. On a national level, we can advocate to increase investment and spending on women's and children's health.
We can advocate to increase the number of health centers that provide free maternal, newborn and child health services. We can commit ourselves to supporting women living with the HIV virus as well as their families. We can encourage women to seek pre-natal care and deliver their babies at health centers or use skilled birth attendants. We can eliminate new infections of HIV in children by 2015.
At the same time, we can work together towards the goal of empowering women everywhere. We can take our rightful place alongside men in tackling the pressing issues that hold back the development of many countries in the world-poverty, hunger, inadequate education, gender inequality, child and maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and environmental degradation.

Your Excellencies the First Ladies,

Distinguished Guests, We have all traveled a long way to gather here in New York to pledge ourselves to reaching the goal of eliminating new infections of HIV in children. There can be no higher goal than to ensure that every child born is free of this deadly disease. This is achievable. In December 2011, the International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.The theme is, 'Own, scale up and sustain.'I would like to take this opportunity to invite you all to this regional conference. As First Ladies, as mothers, as grandmothers, as sisters, as daughters, we will face the challenge of eliminating HIV in children. If women around the world are not involved in facing this challenge, we cannot win. If we all play our part, we cannot fail. Thank you (source..waltainfo.com)

Ethiopia earns over 280 mln USD from traditional gold mining

Addis Ababa, June 16, 2011–.  Ethiopia obtains over 280.2 million dollars from traditional gold mining over the past 11 months, Ministry of Mines (MoM) said Tamirat Mojo, traditional mines manufacturing and transaction process owner, told WIC that the sum was obtained from proceeds of 6,615 kg of gold supplied to the National Bank of Ethiopia. According to Tamira, this year’s gold supply surpasses that of the same period of the previous budget year by 2,866 Kg. The supply also surpassed MoM’s projection of 3,616 Kg supply of gold from traditional mining for the entire budget year. “This shows that traditional gold mining is growing over time,” Tamira noted attributing the increase in the supply with the rise in the price of gold in the international market. The increased supply also prompted the ministry to target a 7,000 kg supply of gold to the NBE from traditional mining for the next budget year, according to Tamirat. He said that with a view to achieving the target, MoM plans to organize individual miners into associations and provide trainings. There are over 400 associations engaged in traditional mining in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Benishangul and Gambella regions.(Source..waltainfo.com)

Amir's Response to Lester R Brown “When the Nile Runs Dry”

Written By Amir Abdulla.
June 16, 2011

A Response to Lester R Brown “When the Nile Runs Dry”

Lester who wrote an article called “When the Nile Runs Dry” on www.nytimes.com which was published on, June 1, 2011 is far from the truth rather a cry for correction!! We expect that somebody in his position would be very aware and has done study on this matter but the article lacks simple history about Ethiopia but is fully equipped very well about the plight of Egypt. I wouldn't be surprised if he was another "self-proclaimed independent" writer yet has a bias agenda toward Ethiopia rather promote Egypt secretly as evident his article. His article is so full of errors and incorrect historic analysis as well inadequate responses to Ethiopia’s legitimate concern that one could conclude Lester’s article was written by Egypt's ex-dictator Hosni (now in jail for corruptions and murder).

Lester his article says "They (land grab) also pose a grave threat to Africa’s newest democracy: Egypt". Ethiopia has leased and will continue to lease to other interested countries land that are not being used. This policy is great and does not affect Egypt in any shape or form. Lester is worried about the democracy of Egypt but he was not worried when Dictator Hosni was ruling it!! Extremely bias and ill informed. Lester goes on to say “land grabs to the south are threatening its ability to put bread on the table because all of Egypt’s grain is either imported or produced with water from the Nile River” this analysis also another wrong assessment on his part because Egypt’s monopoly use of the Nile River should not be an excuse for its domestic problems. Does Lester want Ethiopia to remain the way it is??

Lester reminds his readers the agreement of “The Nile Waters Agreement, which Egypt and Sudan signed in 1959, gave Egypt 75 percent of the river’s flow, 25 percent to Sudan and none to Ethiopia” he sees nothing wrong with this agreement and he fails to even be concerned about Ethiopia’s 82 million people which more than 60 percent of the Nile River originates from. Lester considers “The Nile Water Agreement of 1959” normal yet worried that the agreement might be abandoned which is an extreme view even Egyptians themselves disagree with the agreement are working to rewrite it with their African nations of the Nile River Basin. Lester’s view even contradicts the new governments of Egypt policy toward the Nile River.

Lester’s boldest lie and factual misrepresentation is his claim “Ethiopia has announced plans to build a huge hydroelectric dam on its branch of the Nile that would reduce the water flow to Egypt even more” such a statement is a complete inaccurate and very poor knowledge of the New Abay Project. As the matter of fact the Abay project that Ethiopia has begun would not reduce or hamper the flow of water to Egypt since it would only be use for electricity. Ethiopia has made no secret that it has the right to use the Nile River water without any fear and it shall do so in accordance with international rule in terms of water regulations. Ethiopia has been following all the rules in accordance.

As of now Ethiopia and Egypt are working are working together not only regards to the Nile River but other trade agreement such as the selling of Electricity from Ethiopia. The new Prime Minister of Egypt arrived in Ethiopia and made it very clear to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia that the relations of Egypt and Ethiopia is much greater than anything as evident to their signing of several agreement. I guess Mr. Lester should do more research and rewrite his article in proper and unbiased form.

Amir: America Need Health Care Now

America Need Health Care Now
By Amir Abdulla

Monday 6-13-2011 Such a great nation like America would have been even greater if its congress member forget their ideologies and differences as to pas a health care bill that will serve all the Americans such as the 40million uninsured including the millions of American who have a job but can't afford the health care deduction. In particular many older people and young who have to decide whether to use the money to buy food or get health care. Cleary, it is utterly disgrace to our representives who listen and obey the health care industry rather than the people who elect them. Also, study have shown that the emergency hospital are costing the tax payers hefty due the fact that even people who have insurance would rather go to Emergency hospital rather use up or pay the deduction in their insurance which is very costly. It is reported that we would save money if there was a National Health care plan where all Americans can particiapate rather than pushing them aside. Our health care system is on a national crisis that needs an immidiate soultion with no delay.

Secretary Hilary Clinton to arrive Ethiopia Monday

Addis Ababa, Saturday, 11 June 2011 – United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will pay a two day working visit to Ethiopia on June 13 and 14. During her visit to the country, Secretary Hillary is expected to meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. She is also expected to deliver a speech at the African Union (AU) and meet with Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU commission. Her visit to Ethiopia will focus on discussing regional issues as well as trade and development aspects.Before concluding her visit, the secretary is also scheduled to visit U.S. government supported programs at various venues in Addis Ababa. (waltainfo.com)

Ethiopia woos Saudi investors

JEDDAH:Jun 12, 2011 Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on Sunday that he had been involved in fruitful discussions with the Kingdom’s top leadership including Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
“Aside from cementing historic bilateral ties, we discussed regional and international issues including Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea,” he told a press conference. Desalegn, who headed a high-level nine-member delegation that included Tekleab Kebede who recently returned to Addis Ababa after representing his country as consul general for 15 years here, said: “We will be further discussing a number of issues during the joint economic commission meeting coming up in September in Addis Ababa. The earlier such meeting was held in Riyadh two years ago.”
Ethiopia has a population of 81 million and its Muslim population, which stands at around 33 million, continues to increase. But that does not reflect in the number of pilgrims performing Haj every year, partly due to economic reasons. An average of 10,000 Ethiopians perform the annual Haj. Bilateral trade volume is around SR2 billion but this does not reflect the actual potential, he said, calling on Saudi businessmen to visit and explore the vast investment avenues available in a number of sectors.
“Ethiopia continues to create a conducive investment environment and we hope Saudi investors will take advantage of our vast potential for ventures and joint ventures,” he said, adding that Ethiopia has already initiated steps that could benefit the Kingdom in its ongoing program to provide food security for its increasing population.“What’s more, we have the best environment for investments and tourism because of a good climate, rich flora and fauna, attractive historic sites and sound infrastructure.”Ethiopia has become one of Africa’s investment destinations, he said and urged businesses and companies to explore opportunities to engage in agriculture, agro-processing, energy, infrastructure, tourism and mining.
“Ethiopia has drawn up foreign policy focused squarely on tackling economic backwardness, desperate poverty, lack of good governance and democracy,” he said.
“That is why economic diplomacy is at the centre of our foreign policy, as a nation seeking rapid economic development together with the objective of advancing democracy.“This is what we will reiterate, among many other things, during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s scheduled visit to Ethiopia on Monday.”(arabnews.com)

Ethiopia budget to expand by 22 pct to fight poverty

ADDIS ABABA Jun 11, 2011- Ethiopia has proposed a record 117.8 billion birr annual budget for next year, aiming to build infrastructure, health and education services in one of Africa's fastest growing economies. Although still one of the world's poorest countries, the Horn of Africa nation says its economy has grown by an annual average of 11 percent over the past five years, one of the continent's highest rates. Ethiopia devalued its currency by 10 percent in 2009 to boost foreign reserves. The first draft of the 2011/2012 (July 8-July 7) budget shows spending up by 22 percent from the $5.7 billion endorsed in 2010/2011. Domestic revenue accounts for more than 67 percent of the proposed budget, with the rest generated from external loans and grants, the draft says. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his council of ministers passed the proposal late on Friday and it will be presented first to a parliamentary committee, before Meles presents it to parliament for approval in early July, finance ministry spokesman Haji Ibsa told Reuters.
Addis Ababa has been attracting interest from investors, many from China and India, looking to its agriculture, oil and gas exploration and hydropower sectors. pposition parties say the ruling party inflates the country's growth figures to attract investment and that growth has not filtered down to the poor in a country where last year, 13 million out of 80 million people needed foreign food aid. While the government forecasts growth of 11.4 percent this year, the International Monetary Fund says it will be only about 7.5 percent.The Washington-based body predicts the figure will slow to about 6 percent in the 2011/12 fiscal year, due to high inflation, restrictions on private bank lending and a trickier business environment. Ethiopia's year-on-year inflation rate surged for a second straight month to 29.5 percent in April, from 25 percent a month earlier. Of the total budget, 48.7 billion birr will be used to improve health, infrastructure and education services, according to the proposal. Ethiopia has spent over $3.6 billion on the construction of roads over the last decade.Regular spending is up by 35 percent to 23.3 billion birr."We have a very efficient tax system now and we are confident we will hit the target," said Melaku Fenta, Director of the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority..(source..http://af.reuters.com)

Ethiopia Begins Electricity Exports to Neighboring Djibouti,

Jun 10, 2011 Ethiopia began power exports to its Horn of Africa neighbor Djibouti, an Ethiopian Electric Power Corp. spokesman said.
The electricity shipments began on May 27, Addis Tagele, a spokesman for the state-owned utility, said in a phone interview today from Addis Ababa, the capital.
“The maximum at the moment is about 20 megawatts,” he said.
Ethiopia plans to produce as much as 8,000 megawatts of additional electricity from hydropower sources over the next five years, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on April 30. The country will generate most of the power that will be traded among nine countries that are expected to connect to a regional grid by 2016, according to the Eastern Africa Power Pool.
Construction of a $4.76 billion, 5,250-megawatt project near the Sudanese border was announced on April 2 by Meles. The country’s hydropower potential of 45,000 megawatts is second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo on the continent, according to the World Bank.
A World Bank-funded transmission line to Sudan may be completed this year, Raihan Elahi, the World Bank’s senior energy specialist in Ethiopia, said last month. There is an agreement for Ethiopia to supply as much as 200 megawatts to Sudan, he said.
The African Development Bank provided a total of $95 million to Djibouti and Ethiopia for the project that links the two countries, Ethiopia Resident Representative Lamin Barrow said today in a phone interview from Addis Ababa.
“The beauty of the project is that Ethiopian and Djibouti have diverse peaks,” he said. “So supply will be very easy.”
The connection will bring Djibouti cheap energy to fund its industrial development and is expected to generate $10 million for Ethiopia in the first year, according to Barrow. The foreign exchange earned by Ethiopia can “be ploughed back into fund its Universal Electrification Access Program,” he said.
Ethiopia plans to increase access to electricity to as much as 75 percent of the population in July 2015 from 41 percent now, according to the government’s five-year growth plan!(source..www.Bloomberg.com

Ethiopia: Japan Grants over 6 Billion Yen to Ethiopian Infrastructure

Thursday, 09 June 2011-The Governments of Japan provided a grant of close to 1.4 billion birr (6.567 billion Japanese Yen) to Ethiopia for three infrastructure projects.The grant will be used for rehabilitation of trunk road Phase IV from Dejen to Lumame, Replacement of the Awash Bridge and construction of secondary schools in Amhara Region.The grant agreement is signed this morning (June 9, 2011) between Ethiopian Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Sufian Ahmed and Ambassador Hiroyuki Kishino of Japan to Ethiopia.After signing the agreement Ambassador Kishino promised that his government will continue supporting Ethiopia’s plan of extending the existing road networks of 49,000 kilometres to 64,500 kilometres in five years.
Sufian on his part also noted that all the three projects, which Japan is going to finance, are top priorities in the coming five years growth and transformation plan of Ethiopia.“It is very timely to replace the bridge,” said the minister, commenting on the replacement of the strategic Awash Bridge, which links Addis Ababa to Port Djibouti and located 200 kilometres east of the capital. Japan cars and trucks are the number one choices of many Ethiopians. Import data shows that over 80 percent of vehicles in Ethiopia are made in Japan including the famous ones such as Toyota, Isuzu. Ambassador Kishino, the third project of the agreement will assure the construction eight new secondary schools in Amhara region with each having 32 classrooms. In addition, nine schools will also be expanded. “Japan has already been engaged in school construction in various regions of the country with grants of 1.64 billion Japanese Yen,” he said. The progress in education, which the ambassador quoted shows that from 2004-2008, secondary school enrolment rate in Ethiopia has increased from 27 to 35.6 percent.In the coming five years, the country planned to raise the rate from 39 percent in 2010 to 62 percent at the end of the ambitious growth and transformation period (2015).(NewBusinessEthiopia.com)

Ethiopia: Ukraine sells 200 tanks to Ethiopia for $100 million

6-8-2011 Interfax-Ukraine Ukraine's state arms exporter Ukrspecexport and the Ethiopian Defense Ministry have signed a $100 million contract for the supply of over 200 tanks to Ethiopia, the company told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.
The details of the contract at this stage were not disclosed.
The company said that the tanks "are equipped with modernized propulsion, guided weapons and a reactive armor system."
The company said that the contract with the Ethiopian Defense Ministry was among the eight largest deals concluded by Ukrspecexport in the past 15 years.
According to Interfax-Ukraine sources in the defense sector, the Ethiopian customer will most likely get upgraded T-72 tanks.
According to unofficial estimates, the portfolio of orders of Ukrspecexport and its subsidiaries was estimated at over $1 billion as of early 2011.(source http://www.kyivpost.com)

Aytederani by Nyat music band

Savanna East Africa explores expansion into Ethiopia

Addis Ababa,Wednesday, 08 June 2011- Savanna East Africa, Inc. announced that it plans to explore widening its business development into Ethiopia and has scheduled stakeholders meeting in Addis Ababa next week. A senior management and key stakeholders meeting is scheduled for the week of June 13th in Nairobi, Kenya intended to finalize a number of strategic next steps. Next week's agenda will also include finalizing plans for a Trade Mission intended to encourage investment into East African regional small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Savanna East Africa is concentrating on developing high growth potential capacities within the housing, healthcare and high tech sectors in East Africa. (www.marketwire.com)

Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister to visit Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, June 6,2011 - Dutch Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Ben Knapen is visiting Ethiopia this week for talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as well as non-governmental organizations involved in human rights, humanitarian aid and reproductive health.
 According to Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Knapen will also meet with African Union Chairperson Jean Ping during his visit, which will take place between Monday and Wednesday.
 High on the agenda are the fight against poverty, progress towards the millennium goals, human rights, bilateral and economic ties with the Netherlands and regional and international political developments, among others.
Source..waltainfo.com

Ethiopia 18th founding anniversary of SEPDM marked in Hawassa University

Hawassa, Tuesday, 07 June 2011 – Hawassa University community members have observed the 18th founding anniversary of the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM) today.Members and supporters of the movement marked the anniversary through discussions held at Sidama Hall in Hawassa town, which mainly focused on national development issues.Participants of the event pledged to scale up their participations in development activities in order to attain Ethiopia’s ongoing drive toward renaissance.President of Hawassa University, Dr Yoseph Mamo, on the occasion said that the results that we see today in the area of peace, democracy and development are results of joint efforts of SEPDM and its affiliate organizations.
He said the changes registered in the economy, social and political sectors as a result of struggle wedged over the past years have laid foundation for the coming generation.The enrollment of students in higher learning institutions of Ethiopia, which was less than 10, 000 during the Derg regime, has now raised to 275,000 as a result of the construction of new universities and expansion works carried out on existing ones, he said. Communication Affairs Bureau Head of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s State, Zerihun Zewde, said students and instructors of higher learning institutions must do their parts in the efforts to join Ethiopia to the group of middle income countries.

source..www.waltainfo.com

Former Derg officials express remorse, gratitude

Addis Ababa, Monday, 06 June 2011 – Former Derg officials, whose death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment, expressed their remorse and gratitude to the public.
President Girma Woldegiorgis last week announced the act of clemency to 23 former Derg officials convicted of genocide in 2008.In an exclusive interview with WIC, Fikreselassie Wegderes, Legesse Asfaw, Melaku Tefera, Tesfaye Woldeselassie, Fisseha Desta and Debela Dinsa said that they are ready to individually apologize to each victim.“I take full responsibility for all the inhuman acts committed by the Derg regime,” Tesfaye Woldeselassie (Col.), former Security Minister of the regime, told WIC. “We are grateful for the act of clemency”. Former vice president of the regime, Fisseha Desta (Col.) expressed his belief that the public would be able to truly forgive them. “We deeply regret and extend our heartfelt apologies to the society,” he said, a sentiment shared by Legesse Asfaw (Cpt.), former member of the polit-bureau and head of the transitional administration of Tigray.
“Our plea for forgiveness stem from deep regret,” Legesse told WIC.
Expressing their delight for the act of clemency, the regime’s former Prime Minister, Fikreselassie Wegderes (Cpt.) and Debela Dinsa (Col.), said they have been looking for a way to publicly apologize to all the victims.

“We are grateful for the act of clemency,” they toldl WIC.

The former Derg officials remained behind bars since 1991. Deputy Director of the Addis Ababa Prison Center, Abraham Woldaregay, told WIC that the convicts have learned a lot during their stay at the correction center.

“I am sure it will not be difficult for them to live amongst the society,” Abraham told WIC. We regret to inform our readers the passing of Tesfaye Woldeselassie last Saturday, June 4, 2011. This interview was conducted on Friday, June 3, 2011.

source..waltainfo.com

French investment growing: France’s Ambassador to Ethiopia

Addis Ababa,Saturday, 04 June 201) – Jean-Christophe Belliard, Ambassador of France to Ethiopia, said that Ethiopia is attracting more investment from French companies in recent years.

In an exclusive interview with WIC, the ambassador said the bilateral ties between the two countries in areas of politics, trade, culture and social aspects is growing.

“We have a lot of French companies and businessmen coming to Ethiopia,” he told WIC. “We would like that to continue”. French companies mainly engage in energy and infrastructural developments in Ethiopia.

In the past two years major business deals have been signed with big French companies such as Vergnet Group, Airbus, France Telecom and many others are showing keen interest in Ethiopia.

The 210 million euro Ashegoda Wind Farm Project, the 2.9 billion dollars aircraft supply deal between Ethiopian airlines and Airbus and the 40 million dollars two years contract of management takeover of the former Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) now re-named ethio telecom, are business deals made in the past two years.

“What we want to do now, which is also Ethiopia’s interest, is to attract more middle and small size companies,” Ambassador Belliard told WIC.

According to the ambassador, during the first three months of 2011 alone Ethiopia’s export to France has shown a 100 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Imports have also shown a 70 percent surge during the same period.

In recent times, Ethiopia is attracting huge investment from India, China and Turkey. However, investment from Europe has not been to the satisfaction of the Ethiopian government.

“The decision to come and invest is a decision coming from private companies,” the ambassador said. “We have to convince these [European] companies to invest in Ethiopia”.

He said the Ethiopian government and the embassy of France are working to convince French companies to come and invest.

“Prime Minister Meles [Zenawi] have talked to French Organization of Businessmen in his most recent visit to France,” he added.

Expressing his government’s support for the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project, the ambassador backed the Ethiopian government to successfully realize the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).

“I have observed the inauguration of three dams [Gibe II, Tekeze and Tana Beles] in my two years stay,” Belliard said. “Even the World Bank was saying that it was too ambitious and impossible but Ethiopia did it”.

He said that the international community will be behind Ethiopia for the successful realization of the GTP, which will be instrumental for the country to meet the MDGs by 2015.

France Development Bank has announced that it will provide 300 million euro for Ethiopia for the next three years, the ambassador told WIC.
source...http://www.waltainfo.com
Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 June 2011 )

Germany vows to assist Ethiopia’s GTP

Hawassa, Friday, 03 June 2011 –Ambassador of Germany to Ethiopia, Lieselore Cyrus said that her government would provide the necessary support to Ethiopia’s five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).
 
Ambassador Cyrus said while visiting the development activities underway in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State that the government and people of Germany would give all the support required for the successful implementation of the GTP, a plan intended to ensure the sustainability of ongoing development activities in the country.
 
“The government of Germany would enhance its support to Ethiopia’s effort to beat poverty and improve the livelihood of its citizens,” she said. “The infrastructural development activities being carried out in the state are encouraging”.
 
Ambassador Cyrus held discussion with leaders at all levels and the community during her stay in Hawassa, Halaba, Wolaita, Gamogofa, and South Omo zones.
 
Moreover, she held discussion with teachers and students of technical and vocations training institutions as well as people engaged in small and micro enterprise sectors.
 
Speaker of the SNNP State Council, Lemma Gezume, on the occasion urged the government of Germany to strengthen its support in the areas of capacity building, urban development and poverty reduction.
Last Updated ( Friday, 03 June 2011 )
waltainfo.com

Ambassador Gennet Zewdie of India

Ambassador Gennet Zewdie
Monday, 30 May 2011

“The last thing I want to do before I leave office is to help facilitate and achieve the agreements the two countries have made” - Ambassador Gennet Zewdie


“The last thing I want to do before I leave office is to help facilitate and achieve the agreements the two countries have made,” Ambassador Gennet.The 2nd Africa-India Summit held this week in Addis has equally served as an evidently fitting platform for bilateral talks between Ethiopia and India, where Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had to say: “This was one of the most fruitful meetings I have ever had in my life” and where India pledged to offer USD 300 million for the renovation of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railways line. The bilateral meeting between the two countries marks the growing trade and business relationship between the Africa’s and Asia’s emerging economies, especially over the last few years. Gennet Zewide, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to India spoke to The Reporter’s Hayal Alemayehu about recent developments between the two countries.



For how long have you been serving as Ethiopia’s ambassador to India?



Ambassador Gennet: For over five years now.



Can you tell me by how much trade and investment between the two countries grew over the last five years?



About five years ago, the registered investment capital of licensed Indian companies in Ethiopia amounted to some USD 500 million. That figure has now risen to over USD 4.5 billion. In addition to that, the Indian investors are now being engaged in various sectors of the economy than it had been the case some five years ago when Indian investment projects were mainly in the flower and other agricultural sectors. Now they are being engaged in various fields in the manufacturing, agro processing, information technology (IT), service and other sectors, with big-name Indian companies being involved in such investment projects and more of them planning to come. The two countries have now made agreements to increase Indian investment in Ethiopia to USD 10 billion by 2015 and raise the over USD 600 million trade between them to USD one billion during the same period.



While the growing trade between the two countries is gathering momentum, it is largely in favor of India. Will there be a chance that Ethiopia’s exports to India would significantly grow and somehow narrow the imbalance in the future when we have much less to sell to India than import from it?



Yes. Trade between the two countries is not only going to grow but Ethiopia will be able to export more as more of those big Indian companies who are investing in Ethiopia in the agro processing and manufacturing export their products to India and somewhere else.



To what do you attribute the growing investment and trade between the two countries, especially over the last few years?



As India has long been a growing economy, they are looking for favorable markets in foreign countries. And Ethiopia, aside from being herself a growing economy, qualifies for that in many ways. Better incentives being provided to investors in Ethiopia compared to other markets and economies, market access India companies could secure by investing in Ethiopia including AGOA and COMESA, the security and peaceful situations in the country and commitment from government authorities to assist Indian investors here are the major elements accounting for the growing Indian investment projects here, with over 450 Indian companies currently operating in Ethiopia from a few several years ago.



With some Indian companies looking forward to get hold of up to 300,000 ha of land to produce food for export, some observers fear that that might bring about food insecurity in the country some time in the future. What is your take on that?



No.You should look at it from the overall Ethiopian economic policy or agricultural industrialization policy. I presume you are aware of what we are doing with the peasant land holdings. We have this extension program through which we are providing trainings and so on that enable the farmers produces to double or triple. That will allow us to become food self-sufficient. The government has put in place a policy that will help the country to become food self-sufficient in the coming two to three years. Let alone the Indian companies, the locals themselves are and will be exporting their products. By the way, the Indians who have taken land so far are going to produce high value products like palm oil, process it here and export the oil. Or they grow cotton, like one big Indian company, Spentex, is now doing here on 25,000 ha of land. This company is forced to grow this high value growth because there is not enough cotton harvest in the country for the textile plant the company plans to set up. We are encouraging them to engage in such agro-processing activities. And the land allotted for commercial farming is only three million hectares is peanuts compared the total arable land in the country.



Do Ethiopians who wanted to invest in India get the same treatment and privileges as Indian investors get here in Ethiopia?



Honestly, I haven’t come across any Ethiopian who wants to invest in India. But if they do, I am sure they will get the same treatment because there are many non-Indian investors in India who are treated in such a way. Why would Ethiopians be discriminated against if they are in the right sector and have all that it takes for the kind of investment they want to be engaged in?


The two countries have concluded various agreements of cooperation and trade. Does that include the avoidance of double-taxation between them which the India investors were relentlessly asking for?


Yes it does. We have been talking about it for the last three years. It is particularly good news for Indian investors in Ethiopia as the agreement relieves them from paying tax in India for their business and investment engagements here in Ethiopia.



You have been serving as Ethiopia’s Ambassador for the last five years and two months. What do you want to accomplish most before leaving the office?



The last thing I want to do before I leave the office is to help facilitate and achieve the agreements the two countries have entered into during the bilateral talks between them.

www.waltainfo.com

Ethiopia offers peacekeepers for Abyei in Sudan

6/1/2011-Ethiopia offers peacekeepers for Abyei in Sudan

The south says it wants a UN peace force to monitor the border
Continue reading the main story
Sudan: Set for divorce

Ethiopia has offered send peacekeepers to Sudan's disputed border region of Abyei after its recent seizure by northern troops.

Analysts have feared the Abyei dispute could reignite the civil war between the north and South Sudan, which is due to become independent in July.

Officials say the south has accepted the offer; the north is considering it.

It comes after both sides agreed to set up a demilitarised zone along their border to be jointly patrolled.

Sudan expert Alex De Waal, who is has been working on the African Union-mediated deal, told the BBC negotiations about how it would work were ongoing.

Some 1.5 million people died in the 22-year north-south civil war which ended in 2005.

Border force request
The UN Security Council condemned the occupation of Abyei and called for the immediate withdrawal of northern troops from the oil-producing region also claimed by the south.

Continue reading the main story
Analysis on demilitarised zone

Alex De Waal
Africa expert, interviewed by the BBC World Service
This agreement sets up a joint political and security mechanism as well as a demilitarised zone 10km either side of the border line.

It provides a mechanism for allowing the Sudanese army to leave Abyei and it also provides the structure on to which a possible third party could be locked.

What is under discussion now is what form that third party should take: Should it be the UN, should it be another third party, should there be troops to protect those monitors or should those monitors be protected by the parties themselves?

At the moment the trust between Sudan and South Sudan is not really there but what is quite remarkable is that when the soldiers get together, they get down to business. The business-like and co-operative approach of the senior military officers on both sides gives a lot of reason for confidence that they will actually sort it out.

But Sudan's ambassador to the UN Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman has said it will do so only when new political and security arrangements have been agreed.

Meanwhile, he said Sudan's government wanted peacekeepers to leave its territory when South Sudan becomes independent in July.

The request comes after UN chief Ban Ki-moon proposed a three-month extension to the force's mandate while the north and south resolve outstanding territorial issues.

Mr Osman told the UN Security Council such issues could be settled at the negotiating table.

But a senior official from South Sudan, Ezekiel Gatkuoth, said the UN should have a presence on both sides of the border.

He welcomed its continued existence in the south, saying its main objective should be to avoid a security vacuum.

"We were asking for [a] more than 7,000 UN peacekeeping force. Then we have asked for the UN to do a consultation with the governors of southern Sudan so that we can have a new mission with responsibility to monitor the border and also protect civilians," he told the BBC's World Today programme.

The BBC's Barbara Plett in New York says it is not clear how the UN Security Council will respond to Khartoum's request.

Limiting peacekeepers to the south could complicate efforts to monitor the boundary, parts of which, including Abyei, are contested.


As the Security Council debated the UN's mission in Sudan, Ethiopia said it would send peacekeepers to Abyei if both north and south made the request.

"It is within our interests and that of the region to maintain stability in Sudan," foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told Reuters news agency.

Mr Gatkuoth said Juba accepted Ethiopia's proposal, but Mr Osman said Khartoum was still considering it.

Abyei is claimed by a southern group, the Dinka Ngok, and northern nomads, the Misseriya.

Under the 2005 peace deal, which ended the 22-year civil war, Abyei was granted special status and a joint administration was set up in 2008 to run the area until a referendum decided its fate.

That vote was due to take place in January, when the south decided to split from the north, but has now been postponed indefinitely.

Last week, South Sudan's humanitarian affairs minister said he estimated 150,000 people had fled from Abyei state and border regions fearing further attacks. The UN's currently overall figure is 60,000.

Source...BBC.uk.co

Ethiopia' former Derg 23 officials received the pardon on the basis of the Ethiopian Constitution.

Ethiopia commutes death sentences of Derg officials
Addis Ababa, June 1, 2001  – The government of Ethiopia today commuted the death sentences of 23 Derg officials convicted of genocide to life imprisonment

President Girma Woldegiorgis, told journalists here today that the 23 officials received the pardon on the basis of the Ethiopian Constitution.
 
He said the pardon, which became effective from May 28, 2011, is in response to a request for clemency and expression of regret by the officials for the death of thousands of innocent Ethiopians.
 
Below are lists of the officials who received the pardon:
 
 
1. Captain Fikresilasse Wogderes,
 
2. Capitan Legesse Asfaw,
 
3. Major Melaku Teferra,
 
4. Abdualkadir Mohammed Burka
 
5. Colonel Tesfaye Woldesilasse,
 
6. General Legesse Belayneh Mersha
 
7. Gesgis Gebremeskel,
 
8. Lieutenant Petros Gebre,
 
9. Lieutenant Sileshi Mengesha,
 
10. Colonel Nadew Zekariayas,
 
11. Captain Begashaw Atalay,
 
12. Major General Wubishet Desse,
 
13. Colonel Fisseha Desta,
 
14. Colonel Endale Tessema and
 
15. Colonel Debella Dinsa.
 
16. Lieutenant Argaw Yimer,
 
17. Major Degene Wendimagegnew,
 
18. Eshetu Shenkute,
 
19. Capitan Gesesse Woldekidan,
 
20. Lieutenant Desalegn Belay,
 
21. Private Lisanu Molla,
 
22. Private  Abebe Eshetu and
 
23. Private Berihun Mammo

 
Source..waltainfo.com

Ethiopian Women, youth leagues regular conference kicks off

ADDIS ABABA 6-1-11- The Addis Ababa Women and Youth EPRDF Leagues 1st regular conference kicked off as of yesterday under the theme: '' We will ensure our sustainable benefits through the active participation of women and youth of our city in realizing the Grand Renaissance Dam''.Briefing journalists on the overall objective of the conference, Wobeshet G/Egziabher, Addis Ababa Youth League Chairperson said that the main aim of the conference is to evaluate the previous performances of both Women and Youth Addis Ababa EPRDF Leagues while discussing the future strategies towards making youth and women beneficiaries from the ongoing development packages at various levels.
According to the Chairperson, the primary need for establishing both women and youth leagues is to produce potential leaders. Particularly, it necessitate to establish the leagues to build the overall stewardship capacities of women and youth thereby make them capable of assuming political responsibilities. Hence, as per its objectives of establishment, the political participation of women and youth in Addis Ababa city is increasing, he added.
Wobeshet further indicated that the leagues are also in charge of fighting against rent seeking attitude and malpractices as well as power abuses in the city through the participation of members. To properly discharge these responsibilities the leagues were offering training to members and even other women and youth to avoid problems related to attitude, inputs and skills gap among them, he added. Kiros Atsbeha, Addis Ababa EPRDF Women Leagues Chairperson on her part said that women are being economically empowered following the establishment of the league despite their economical dependence on their counter men earlier. Specifically, the Leagues have been helping the women in offering necessary training as how to organize themselves through micro and small scale enterprises for their common benefits, she said.
Making women and youth equal beneficiaries from the ongoing development of the country at all levels is among the major pillars of the National Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP). Therefore, the leagues are making every effort towards proper implementation of the plan in this regard.


Source: Ethiopian press agency

Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalgne

“We still stand on our own regarding the construction of the Renaissance Dam” Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalgne

A water engineer by profession and former Arbaminch University president, through the years, he served in various positions in this party and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State before assuming the second most powerful position in the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). In the backdrop of the recent wave of hydro-power project conceived on the single most contentious river in the region, the Nile, and the commencement of the new national council heading the dam project, he briefed the local press on the matter. Excerpts.

Q: Since the announcements of the Renaissance Dam, people all over the country are giving money, buying bonds to contribute towards the 80 billion birr construction cost. Among these are public servants in various government institutions who are sacrificing their one-month salary for the cause. However, some of the meetings where such decisions are passed seem to be driven as per the voice of the participants present, while monthly income is supposed to be a private matter left only to individuals. What is your take on this issue?

A: To begin with, when the construction of the dam was announced we did not expect such a popular wave of movement from the people. However, it does not mean that all have the same set of mind on the matter. Hence, from the get-go that is why we try to take an all-round approach where everyone participates on individual terms and willingness. As observed in the government institutions, the public sector employees decided and are deciding to donate their one-month salary to the construction of the dam. This does not mean that just because the majority of the employees decided to do so, each and every one of the employees have to abide by it. After the collective meetings where these decisions are taken, there is another step where each signs to give the money. The final say rests on the individual and there is no way that collective decisions can decide on personal property and rights. This is not something that is designed for this dam contribution matter. In fact it has been in the law that governs these government institutions all along. It is obvious that everyone cannot be present at these collective meetings, nor is it the case that everybody will have the chance to speak at these meetings and reflect their true feeling for various reasons. Yet, when such decision enter into force it is the individual employees who gets to the make the choice on their personal earnings. The concern by itself should not be there as the basic right of employees to decide on personal earnings is embedded in rules and principles that these institution work under.

That being said, it will be naïve to assume that there will be no glitches in a mass movement of this scale. Partly this is the reason why we have to set up a national committee to oversee the whole process. Wastage of resources meant for the dam is one problem that we (the council) are looking into. The public servant support and movement is just one part of the coin in the nationwide, all-sector wave in the nation. At times like this there could be some who want to benefit by exploiting the whole situation and this is where the guidance of the council is required. Had it been easier to coordinate the construction and movement of the people by whatever government framework at the ground, the council would not have been need in the first place.

Q: But you do think that is how it is done on the ground? Do you think the employees are not forced by meetings and mass sentiments into giving away their one-month salary?

A: As I have said earlier this not a new system that we have put in place just for the purpose of fund-raising for the Renaissance Dam construction. It has been there in the rules and regulation and these institutions have been working with it for a number of years. Even in the case of disciplinary penalty on employees, it is not up to another party to decide on the income of the worker without the worker’s consent. As far as the dam construction is concerned, the government wants every contribution and participation extended to the dam in full willingness and solidarity to the cause. Hence, partly the responsibility of the council will be to ensure the democratization of the whole process and cater for this nationwide movement that public servants fall as one part.

Q: What can you tell us about the compositions of the council?

A: As to the composition we have tried to incorporate as much as possible a wide range of the society in the country. Opposition political party members, who happen to be in the joint party council, athletes like Haile Gebresilassie, Derartu Tulu. Meseret Defar, Kenenisa Bekele are included in the council. On the other hand, renowned scholars, religious institution leaders, artists and businessmen, federal and regional government bodies are also in the new council. All in all the council is made up of some 75 people and the list would be made public shortly. Since it is directly accountable to the prime minister himself, the deputy prime minister will be its president and the head of the Office of Government Communication Affairs would also serve as the secretary of the council. Essentially the project is a government project with a slight twist which is the fact that it involves a lot of mass participation; hence it falls under the government body but as much as possible minimum presentation of the latter in the council itself.

Q: What are the criteria that the 75 people had to meet in order to be part of the council?

A: There is no list of criteria or quality that the membership of the council has depended on. The one and only criterion is just incorporating every part of the society in the county. We set out to pool all groups in the nation. It has government representation, civil society, religious institutions, artists (there are six artists associations and all are represented), scholars, political parties, professional associations (around 13 of them are in there). In case of some of the association where there is wide membership we tried to take more than one representative. On the other hand, it does not mean that the membership of the council has been completed; still if there are some not represented we can still take them in as the main goal is to be inclusive of the whole society.

Q: When it comes to overseeing the fund, is the council empowered over the finance raised from bond sales and other sources?

A: The council looks after all sort of financial resources collected in the name of the dam. There are sub-committees entrusted with controlling the bond sales revenue, there is another for diaspora affairs and still one for public mobilization and event management. There should not be any event in the name of the Renaissance Dam without the knowledge of the council. Not even a single dime should be solicited without the council’s knowledge. There is also another sub-committee that follows up on the progress of the construction of the dam and also will be informing the public about it. The progress of the dam and the amount of resources spent will also be accounted for periodically.

Q: In terms of finance, are there any hopeful pledges made outside of the country? What about Ethiopians in the diaspora or foreign aid agencies?

A: So far, the government’s conviction is to bear the cost of the dam from local sources and to that there is no change. The whole point is to leave some of our relics to postrity. It is something of the Ethiopian people and the government. However, there is no objection if there is some foreign national wanting to contribute to the construction of the dam. As far as finances go, we will not request assistance from foreign sources. That being said, when it comes to the Ethiopians in the diaspora, we believe they are Ethiopians and they can participate as any citizen in the construction of the dam. In some places they have formed committees to achieve this end and they are working with our councilor offices in there.

Q: Now that Egypt is softening in its stance on the idea of a dam on the Nile River, some are saying that since a dam is advantageous for the downstream countries, there could be some financing possibilities. Given Ethiopia’s stand on financing the dam, are you going to entertain such offers should there be any?

A: When it comes to decision about the financial sources the government is one on the driving seat. This is a matter of diplomacy and foreign relation. However, as I have said earlier, so far there is no change on our stand to build it with our own resources. Yet again if it safeguards national interest we will not hesitate to accept it. So, it is a matter of national interest and we will have cross that bridge when we get there. In my view the most advantageous is countries at that level of commitment for common cooperation. Sudan and Egypt, if willing to participate at that level, will be more advantageous not for the money but for something more than that, anyhow, it will be decided when it actually happens.

Q: Apart from the decision to complete the dam with our own resources and not to ask for foreign financial assistance, what are the prospects for loans?

A: After we have taken the decision to do it by ourselves, we have not gone for any financing schemes apart from our own. And before, we do know that thanks to relentless campaigns it was all blocked. However, after we have taken bold moves to do it, we have not checked so and do not know if there is any change there. In my view it is naïve to expect to change this soon and what we should focus on is just to work hard in that direction.

Q: President Esayas Afowerki of Eritrea has spoken on the matter recently. He said Ethiopia has the right to use the water; did that surprise you at all?

A: We have been listening to the president for years. If it is not altered in a matters of weeks maybe it might be possible to comment on the substance. So, it would be better to be asked after a week.

source waltainfo.com

Prime Minister Meles attends G8 summit in France

Addis Ababa,(Ethiopia)5-28-11 Ethiopian Prime Minister,Meles Zenawi leaves Thursday for France to attend the G8 summit as one of invited African leaders. The G8 summit in France is also expected to discuss issues related to the current political crisis in the Arab world, including the situation in Libya and other countries.It is reported that nuclear safety and climate change as well as green growth and innovation are among the top items on the agenda of the summit. Prime Minister Meles is currently serving as a spokesperson for Africa on climate change and environmental issues. He was re-elected last January to represent Africa on the world negotiation on climate change and its impact in Africa.Meles is expected to hold talks with the leaders at the summit where he will discuss issues related to climate change and other political affairs. According to available information, created at the initiative of France in 1975 to address the first oil crisis, the G8 is an informal group of advanced economies, which meets once a year at a summit of heads of state and government. It has a role of guidance and political impetus. G8 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Composed of six members at its creation in 1975, and seven with Canada in 1976, the group became the G8 with the inclusion of Russia in 1998. The European Union has been associated since 1977. G8 members represent 15 percent of world's population, 65 percent of GDP, and two thirds of international trade.

source..http://www.afriqueavenir.org

Ethiopian joyfully celebrate Ginbot 20 at Mesqel Sq

Addis Ababa, May 28, 2011 – Close to one million Addis Ababa city residents from all parts of the city gathered at Mesqel Square today and colorfully celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Ginbot 20 (May 28).Residents from all ages and sections of the society began marching to the iconic square early in the morning from all 10 sub cities of the Addis Ababa City Administration. Chanting and dancing, the mass expressed support for the construction of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and vowed to eradicate poverty from Ethiopia.

“I never felt happier than the day when the Derg regime was removed from power and the day I heard the news of the construction of the Renaissance Dam on Abay [River],” said the 82 year old Mekonnen Zegeye, member of Ethiopian Patriots Association.

While the organizers wait for the guest of honors to arrive, the crowed were kept entertained with songs of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia and songs written on the river Nile.

A helicopter from the Ministry of Defense (MoD), hovering over the joyful crowed, sent its congratulatory messages on the twentieth anniversary of the downfall of the Derg regime and the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on flying leaflets.


Just before the day’s program was officially opened, the crowed was joined by guest of honor of the day, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and First Lady Azeb Mesfin. They received a warm welcome from the cheering crowed which filled the square.

“We are determined to finalize the great renaissance dam ahead of schedule with the minimum possible cost,” Meles said in his address, receiving a roar of applause from the overjoyed crowed.

High ranking officials, including Kuma Demeksa, Mayor of Addis Ababa city, Abadula Gemeda and Kassa Tekleberhan, speakers of House of Peoples Representatives and House of Federation, respectively and diplomats were also in attendance.

Addressing the crowed ahead of the Prime Minister, Mayor Kuma said that Ginbot 20 is a day in which the basis for democracy, peace and unity was laid in Ethiopia.

“Ethiopians were deprived of their human and democratic rights during the previous regimes,” Kuma said.

Religious institutions also took the opportunity to commemorate the day in which they said religious freedom was guaranteed in the constitution.

“In the previous regime religious freedom was unthinkable,” Hussien kemal, a Muslim participant, told WIC. “Thanks to Ginbot 20, I am freely exercising my religious freedom”.

A number of deacons, priests and religious followers from the orthodox Christian churches in the city were also seen celebrating the day. One of them, Yakob Woldehawaria, said: “There is religious tolerance in our country and this is without doubt one fruit of Ginbot 20”.

Another participant, Alemayehu Tafesse (Cpt.), who works in the Defense Logistics Department at the MoD, said the day is a day in which Ethiopia began to build its name for democracy, peace and stability, political recognition as well as rapid economic growth. This was a sentiment shared by many of the participants WIC talked to.

The square was filled with different kinds of scenes. People dressed in various traditional clothes, some waving the national flag and flags of the different nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. Costumes and artistic designs specially made to mark the occasion were common.

“I have specially designed this model of the renaissance dam to remember this historic day,” said a participant in his mid 20’s. An architect by profession, he and his friends made the replica of the model of the Renaissance Dam using waste materials such as paper and pieces of wood.
source..waltainfo.com

Over 30,000 km roads constructed with 64 bln birr in 20 years time

Addis Ababa, May 27 – The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) disclosed that over 30,000 km of higher-class roads were constructed at a cost of more than 64 billion birr during the past 20 years.
 Authority Communication Directorate Director, Samson Wondimu, said that owing to the endeavors made to fulfill the public’s need for road infrastructure and accelerate economic growth of the country, the stated kilometers of roads were built across the country during the past two decades.“The incumbent government inherited only 18, 000 km of roads when it overthrew the Derg regime. However, the national road network reached to 49, 000 Km now,” Samson told WIC yesterday in connection with the 20th anniversary of May 28, a day that marks the demises of the Derg regime.
 
Besides, more than 100, 000 km of rural feeder roads were built through the active involvement of the rural community, Samson added.
 
“A noticeable expansion of road network was registered at a national level in particular after the realization of the Road Sector Development Program (RSDP) in 1997,” he added.
 
According to Samson, the improvement of the road sector contributed a lot for the speedy economic growth registered during the past seven consecutive years.
 
The authority is currently implementing a five-year road sector development program that takes into consideration the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), he added.
 
According to the director, more than 99,431km at a federal level (71,523 regional roads access program) and 11, 212 km all weather roads will be built at a cost of 121 billion birr over the coming 5 years.
 
More than 60 per cent of the total costs will be covered by the government of Ethiopia, while the balance will be obtained from Road Fund, lenders, donors and other sources, he noted.
Source..waltainfo.com

Ethiopia celebrates May 28 Colorfully Across Country

Addis Ababa, May 27,2011 - The twentieth anniversary of May 28 will be colorfully celebrated across the country, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) said. Redwan Hussien, head of EPRDF secretariat and member of the executive committee, told journalists yesterday that nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia will colorfully mark May 28 as it is the base for the economic, social and political developments registered in the past two decades.
 “It is a day in which all Ethiopians, led by EPRDF, got rid of the brutal and murderess regime of Derg,” he said. “It is a day where democracy, justice and freedom were introduced for the first time to Ethiopia”.
 
The system of democratic federalism introduced ensured the equality of all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, Redwan said.
 
“It [the day] has opened the door for us to fight poverty, hunger, war, backwardness and illiteracy,” Redwan added.
 
He said that the day will be unique as it will be marked while the country is implementing the five year Growth and Transformation Plan, which include the construction of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on Nile River.
 
Reassuring the people, Redwan expressed EPRDF’s commitment to continuously tackle the artificial price inflation and supply gaps in the market play.
 
The people of Ethiopian annually commemorate May 28 (Ginbot 20) - a day when the 17-year dictatorial rule of the Derg regime came to an end after long years of struggle.
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 May 2011 )
 
Sourc..waltainfo.com

Higher Education Quality, Standards Assurance Project completed

Addis Ababa 5/27/11– The Ministry of Education said Higher Education Quality and Standards Assurance Project implemented in collaboration with the UK government over the last three years has been completed. Opening a relevant national conference here Wednesday, Education State Minister Dr. Kaba Urgessa said the project supports government’s effort towards ensuring education quality.
Government has already commenced application of standard and criterion in Law education stream, he said adding, efforts are underway in other streams for the same cause.
Hence, he said, competence certificate will be issued to professionals graduated from government and private institutions in the coming five years.
UK government representative, Dr. Chris Berry on his part said the project has been undertaken in four fields of studies.
He said Bahir Dar, Addis Ababa and Adama universities have implemented the project with Leeds Metropolitan University of England.
According to him, ten universities have benefited from the project in the fields of Management, Education, Sports and English Language.
He said the project helps produce competent professionals.
The conference aims to publicize the benefit of the project and the changes it brought in the quality and standards of higher education in the country.
The project was launched three years ago to develop the necessary policy and strategy, framework, infrastructure and system for quality assurance within the higher education institutions.
The conference, which was carried out under the title Designing Quality and Standard into Higher Education curricula, attracted professionals from government and private education institutions.

source ENA

Romanian companies keen to invest Ethiopian

Addis Ababa, May 26 – Due to the favorable policies put in place in Ethiopia, over 20 Romanian companies expressed their desire to engage in various investment sectors, according to Marius Nicolescu, President of Extra Europe Promotion Center.
 In an exclusive interview with WIC today, Nicolescu said that the stated number of Romanian companies are ready to take part and do businesses in Ethiopia.  “The companies with more than 30 years of experience are eager to engage in the areas of construction, mining and petroleum exploration, among others,” he noted.
 
The companies are also interested to involve in water drilling, engineering, and trade since there will be enormous opportunities in the sector in Ethiopia, he said.
 
Ethiopia’s political stability, huge untapped natural resources, market opportunities and incentives being given by the government are among the factors that attracted the attention of Romanian companies to invest here, Nicolescu said.
 
The companies have discussed with Ethiopian company owners and Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association on how to work together so that they would commence investment soon, he said.
 
“Teams of the companies are well experienced in consultancy, erecting projects, vocational training, recruitments and placement of labor forces with proven success in the world,” he sad.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 May 2011 )
source..waltainfo.com

Ethio-India target a bln dollar trade relation

Addis Ababa, May 26 – Prime Minister Meles Zenawi projected Ethio-India trade relation to grow to one billion dollar in four years time. 
Holding the first ever bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India in Addis Ababa, premier Meles said that both countries are confident that the trade relation would increase from where it currently stands.
Over 400 Indian companies are investing in Ethiopia with a registered capital of 4.5 million dollars. They are mainly engaged in agriculture, textile, leather and leather products, ICT and mining.India, which provided lines of credit of some 700 million dollars to Ethiopia over the past five years, has pledged to provide another 300 million dollars in credit for the Ethio-Djibouti Railway project. India has also decided to set up a technical and vocational training institute in Ethiopia.

Meles, who hailed his meeting with Singh as the most fruitful he ever had, added that the two leaders have also agreed to strengthen military and security cooperation.

The Prime Minister also downplayed claims of land grabs in Ethiopia and pleaded with Indian investors to ignore what he referred as the ill informed and ill intended campaign.

According to the Prime Minister there is three million hectares of unutilized land prepared and ready for investors in Ethiopia, out of which only 10 percent have been allocated.

“It [allocation of land] is done on the basis of a transparent arrangement and lease based,” Meles told journalists. “There is no land grabs in Ethiopia, has never been and never will be”.

Prime Minister Singh commended the overall economic development of Ethiopia as ‘exemplary’ for the rest of Africa and invited Prime Minister Meles to visit India.

Singh is expected to address parliamentarians today before his official bilateral visit ends later the day.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 May 2011 )
source...waltainfo.com

The Marriage that is Bound to Hell: A Case of Ethiopia’s Exiled Opposition

Sleeping with the Enemy
Hindeya Mebrahtu May 21, 2011- For all I know Ginbot7 is known for its vociferous criticism and denunciation of the Ethiopian form of government which is federation based on nations and nationalities. This organization is abhorrent to group rights and its leaders speciously try to validate only individual rights. Its leader, Dr. Berhanu Nega, has always been highly critical over EPRDF’s policy that recognizes the rights of people, nations and nationalities. For the good doctor, the Ethiopian federal structure is a tender box that ultimately would result in the disintegration of the nation.

OLF and ONLF however never pretended in promoting their mission. To them, Ethiopia is alien and they claim they are fighting to be independent from the alien entity. It is therefore logical to assume that the ideology of OLF and ONLF is unpalatable to Ginbot7. In a normal world, Ginbot7 masquerading as unionist would have accounted these two organizations as its nemeses.

Interestingly, however, on April 23, 2011 Ginbot7, OLF and ONLF declared to the world in Atlanta that they have concluded an agreement to struggle together in order to realize their long held dreams of a better Ethiopia. It is comical. If Ginbot7’s principle is antithetical to the Ethiopian federal system for the already stated reasons, what is the logical explanation for this organization to sleep together with OLF and ONLF that see Ethiopia as a foreign entity? The same question applies to OLF and ONLF for the new enamor they find in Ginbot7. I think even one with a pedantic mind would find it difficult to draw any logic out of such bizarre union.

There is a pattern to this riddle. Ginbot7 had gone as far as Asmara to express its solidarity with Eritrean government in its fight against “ woyane” government. This organization has been working in cahoots with the disgruntled Arbegnoch that had made its “safe heaven” in Eritrea.

This is again a mind boggling question. How could the Ginbot7s entertain the possibility of basking love and care in the world of shaebia? The Ginbot7s that accuse EPRDF over Eritrean independence seem to have little understanding of shaebia’s dilemma when dealing with Ethiopia’s so called opposition. Little did they know that their posture with respect to Eritrea reflects the same image as that of the DERG. And shaebia knows this very well. Isayas Afewerki is interested in Ethiopia’s opposition groups only as far as they serve him as leverage against Ethiopia, a formidable foe. They are only expendable in the eyes of shaebia.

The myopia of their understanding over the nature of an organization when these opposition groups select a partner is perfectly reflected when the so called Ethiopian opposition websites broke the news about a month a go that shaebia had murdered around 15 of the Arbegnoch leaders. This tragic scenario I believe is the result of a state of mind characterized asymmetry of love and hate. The leaders of the exiled opposition hate EPRDF more than they love themselves, just to end up in fatal attraction.

Tantrum Over Achievement
What is more difficult about the leaders of the self exiled opposition is, understanding what they aspire for Ethiopia. Not long ago they were deafening our ears with platitudes such as the economy was in shambles and that economy was a priority before democracy. At this time when the Ethiopian government is investing in mega projects to revamp the economy, they started complaining peevishly that democracy should be a priority. At times, they put their few diehard supporters in an awkward situation with their inconsistent rambling.

On May 15, 2011 Ginbot7 leader Dr. Berhanu Nega had this to say to a group of twenty people in Los Angeles, California:

“Don’t forget this. Any thing, I mean any thing that pleases EPRDF should be opposed and condemned.”

The above quoted speech is not an aberrant version of his speech. That is exactly what he said. Among other things, I think this speech itself belie his claim of a patriotic leader. If building universities, hospitals all over the country and building of the Renaissance Dam is going to please the EPRDF leadership, then they have to be denounced according to Dr. Berhanu’s logical ways of opposing EPRDF. If this is patriotism, better to stay unpatriotic.

It is none of the Ginbot7s concern if millions of Ethiopians go hungry and live in darkness. This particular speech buttressed my conviction that hunger and death of too many Ethiopians are acceptable to Ginbot7 in so far as concomitantly brings them on to power. All their cries about economy and democracy are perfunctory.

In light of this, their call for the North African style revolutions to take place in Ethiopia is nothing other than an attempt to pit the government and the people: and not because they see any positive ramifications in the aftermath of the tumult they desperately crave. The Ginbot7s are trying to salvage their existential predicament by hammering the people to revolt in the hope that it would invite carnage on the Ethiopian people. They are tantalizingly waiting to see the spill of blood and death of civilians by government troops in their attempt to enforce law and order, there by EPRDF would lose Ethiopian people’s trust. This is the essence of their motive when they call the people to go on riot. It is all about power. Like they say, their mind is devil’s workshop. The good thing is gone are the days when these so called Diaspora opposition leaders could hoodwink the people. There is no more any Pandora’s Box that any opposition can unleash in Ethiopia. Believe me evanescence is your fate, I bet!

For any comment, you can reach me at: hindeya34@yahoo.com

Source..aigaforum.com

Midakegn Woreda, West Shoa Zone of Oromia State building 25 dev’t projects

AMBO 5.25.2011 – The construction of 25 various development projects is underway in Midakegn Woreda, West Shoa Zone of Oromia State with over three million birr, the woreda administration said.
Woreda Deputy Chief, Shule Abdissa told ENA that the projects are in the areas of education, safe water provision, health and agriculture.
Shule, who is also head of the woreda agriculture office, said so far construction of a youth centre, a library and a cafeteria has been finalized.. The government and the public covered the cost for construction of the projects, he said.
Upon going fully operational at the end of this fiscal year, the projects will benefit over 50,000 residents, Shule said.

Source: ENA

South Gondar, Rib Dam 1st phase construction, irrigation dev't project finalized

ADDIS ABABA 5.25.11 – The first phase of construction of the Rib Dam and Irrigation Development Project launched in South Gondar Zone of Amhara State at a cost of over 1.4 billion birr has been completed, Project General Manager Elias Jobir said.
Elias told journalists that the project will benefit over 40,000 farmers.
The project scheduled to be completed after two years, will enable the stated number of farmers to ensure food security.
Construction of the project has created job opportunities for about 400 residents, the manager said.
He said the project has a capacity to develop over 20,000 hectares.


Source: ENA

Rib South Gondar, Dam 1st phase construction, irrigation dev't project finalized

ADDIS ABABA 5.25.11– The first phase of construction of the Rib Dam and Irrigation Development Project launched in South Gondar Zone of Amhara State at a cost of over 1.4 billion birr has been completed, Project General Manager Elias Jobir said.
Elias told journalists that the project will benefit over 40,000 farmers.
The project scheduled to be completed after two years, will enable the stated number of farmers to ensure food security.
Construction of the project has created job opportunities for about 400 residents, the manager said.
He said the project has a capacity to develop over 20,000 hectares.


Source: ENA

Oromia Irrigating 33,000ht of Land

5-24-2011-Over 32,390 farmers are developing over 33,000ht through irrigation in North Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, according to the zonal agriculture and rural development office. More than 10,000ql of artificial fertiliser and compost were used to develop the stated area of land, it said.

 




Source..(addisfortune.com)

Farmers collect 97 mln. birr income through irrigation

Addis Ababa – Some 22,000 farmers engaged small-scale irrigation development in Ofla Woreda of South Tigray Zone during the dry season have obtained over 97 million birr income, the woreda rural development office said.
Office Head, Asfaw Neguse told ENA Saturday that the farmers earned the income from sale of over 140,000 quintals of vegetables and fruits cultivated on 3,600 hectares through irrigation over the last five months.
Asfaw said making use of fertilizers and select seeds enabled the farmers to collect the stated sum.
Over 16,000 farmers in Kilte Awlalo Woreda of East Tigray Zone have also obtained nearly 70 million birr through irrigation, the woreda public relation office said.
Office Head, Solomon Ambaye said the farmers earned the stated sum from sale of 367,000 quintals of agricultural products cultivated on 5,200 hectares.
According to him, the products include spices, vegetables and fruits.
The farmers utilized over 2,000 water wells, 44 small rivers and half a million quintals of fertilizer to boost production, he said.

Source: (ENA)

India pledges 300 mln USD for Ethio-Djibouti Railway

Addis Ababa, May 24 – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India announced that his government would support the development of a new Ethio-Djibouti Railway line to the tune of 300 million dollars.
At the inaugural ceremony of the Second Africa India Forum Summit, Prime Minister Singh said India would also offer 5 billion USD for the next three years under lines of credit to help achieve the development goals of Africa.
“Under the lines of credit that we offered at the first Summit, we had specifically looked at promoting regional integration through infrastructure development,” Singh said in his address to Heads of States and representatives of 15 African countries. “On the advice of the African Union, I am happy to announce that we would support the development of a new Ethio-Djibouti Railway line to the tune of 300 million USD for this important regional project”.

The Prime Minister also said that India will offer an additional 700 million USD to establish new institutions and training programmes in consultation with the African Union and its institutions.

“Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth pole of the world in the 21st century,” Singh said. “We will work with Africa to enable it to realize this potential”.

The Prime Minister proposed to establish an India-Africa Food Processing Cluster, Integrated Textiles Cluster, Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting Cluster and an India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development.

He also proposed the establishment of an India-Africa Virtual University, which will provide 10,000 new scholarships for African students.

“This, we hope, will help to meet some of the demand in Africa for higher studies in Indian Institutions,” Singh said adding that the current 500 African scholarships per annum would be increased to 900, taking the total commitment for the next three years to more than 22,000.

In support of maintaining peace and security in Africa, Prime Minister Singh said that India would contribute two million USD for the African Union Mission in Somalia.

The Second Africa-India Forum Summit is expected to adopt a Joint Declaration of the Africa – India Partnership (Addis Ababa Declaration) to contain the political commitments of the two sides, as well as an Africa – India Framework for Cooperation when it culminates tomorrow.

Representatives of 15 African countries including Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Namibia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Swaziland are taking part in the summit.

On the Ethiopian side Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his Deputy Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Summit.

Singh, who co-chaired the Summit with Chairperson of the African Union and President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is also expected to hold bilateral visits to Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Source..Waltainfo.com

ለህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ ድጋፍ ቀጥሏል

5-23-23-የቦንድ ግዥና የገንዘብ ድጋፍ ተጠናክሮ ቀጥሏል። ሰዒድ ያሲን የግል ኩባንያና ሠራተኞቹ ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ አንድ ነጥብ አንድ ሚሊዮን ብር ድጋፍ አድርገዋል። የኩባንያው ዋና ሥራ አስኪያጅ አቶ ሰዒድ ያሲን እንደገለጹት፤ የግድቡ ግንባታ ተጠናቅቆ አገልግሎት መስጠት ሲጀምር ከማንኛውም የኅብረተሰብ ክፍል በበለጠ ተጠቃሚው የንግዱ ማኅበረሰብ ነው። ንግሥት ለግድቡ ግንባታ መላው ሕዝብ እንዲሳተፍ ላቀረበው ጥሪም ኩባንያው 100 ሺ ብር በስጦታ፣ 900ሺ ብር ደግሞ ከወለድ ነጻ የሆነ ቦንድ ለመግዛት ውሳኔ ላይ ደርሷል።የኩባንያው ሠራተኞች ደግሞ በአንድ ዓመት ተከፍሎ የሚጠናቀቅ የአንድ ወር ደመዛቸውን 100ሺ ብር ለማበርከት ወስነዋል። በዓባይ ወንዝ ላይ የተጀመረው የልማት ፕሮጀክት የኢትዮጵያ ሕዝብ ለዘመናት የነበረውን የረጅም ጊዜ ምኞት ያሳካ መሆኑን ጠቁመው፤ የኩባንያው ድጋፍ የግድቡ ግንባታ ተጠናቆ ለአገልግሎት እስኪበቃ ድረስ አስፈላጊውን ድጋፍ ሁሉ እንደሚያደርግ አረጋግጠዋል።
መላው የንግዱ ማኅበረሰብም በባለቤትነት መንፈስ እያደረገ ያለውን ተሳትፎ አጠናክሮ እንደሚቀጥልም እምነታቸው መሆኑን ገልጸዋል።
ሰዓድ ያሲን ኩባንያ ቡናን ወደ ውጭ በመላክ ንግድ ላይ የተሰማራ የአገር ውስጥ ኩባንያ ነው።
ነገሌ
በጉጂ ዞን የኡራጋ ወረዳ የመንግሥት ሠራተኞችና መምህራን ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ የአንድ ወር ደመወዛቸውን ከ980ሺ በላይ ብር ለመለገስ ቃል ገቡ፡፡
የወረዳው ዋና አስተዳዳሪ አቶ ክፍሌ ዋሬ ሰሞኑን እንደገለጹት፤ መምህራኑና ሠራተኞቹ ደመወዛቸውን ለመለገስ ቃል የገቡት በህዳሴው ግደብ ግንባታ ዙሪያ በስፋት ከተወያዩ በኋላ ነው፡፡
እንዲሁም ከደመወዛቸው በተጨማሪ በግልና በቡድን እንደየአቅማቸው ገንዘብ በማዋጣት ቦንድ ለመግዛት ስምምነት ላይ መድረሳቸውንም ጠቁመዋል፡፡
የህዳሴው ግድብ ግንባታ ተጀምሮ እስከሚጠናቀቅም የሚፈለግባቸውን ለማድረግ ቃል መግባታቸውን ዋና አስተዳዳሪው አስታውቀዋል፡፡
ዲላ
በጌዴኦ ዞን የቡሌ ወረዳ የመንግሥት ሠራተኞችና የአመራር አካላት ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ የአንድ ወር ደመወዛቸውን ከአንድ ሚሊዮን በላይ ብር ለገሱ።
ሠራተኞቹና የአመራር አባላቱ ደመወዛቸውን ለመለገስ የተስማሙት በግድቡ ግንባታ እንቅስቃሴ ዙሪያ በወረዳው ዋና ከተማ በስፋት ከተወያዩ በኋላ ነው፡፡
እንዲሁም ሠራተኞቹ ከወር ደመወዛቸው በተጨማሪም ቦንድ እንደሚገዙና ግድቡ እስኪጠናቀቅ ድረስም በገንዘባቸው፣ በዕውቀ ታቸውና በጉልበታቸው ድጋፍ ለማድረግ መዘጋጀታቸውንም ገልጸዋል።
የወረዳው ዋና አስተዳዳሪ አቶ ኃይሉ መንገሻ እንደተናገሩት፤ የመንግሥት ሠራተኛው ለህዳሴው ግድብ የሰጠው ድጋፍ ለሀገሩ እድገት ያለውን ጉጉት የሚያሳይ ነው ብለዋል፡፡
ሠራተኛው የጀመረውን ተነሳሽነት በተሰማራበት መስክ ሁሉ በመተግበር ከድህነትና ኋላቀርነት ለመላቀቅ ለሚደረገው ድጋፍ የበኩሉን አስተዋፅኦ እንዲያበረክት አሳስበዋል።

source..http://www.ethpress.gov.et