The spokesperson of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti, gave the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing today December 2020 to the media. In his presentation, the Ambassador focused on the diplomatic activities related to the law enforcement operation in Tigray, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), capacity building to the Ministry’s staff, and economic and citizen-centered diplomatic activities within the past two weeks.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, here is the summary of the briefing.
I. Operation in Tigray
The Ministry has been actively engaging in activities that aimed at making concerned bodies understand the ongoing government operation in Tigray through Diplomatic tours, Phone conversations, and various media engagements.
Diplomatic tours
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, has been on a diplomatic tour in Europe to discuss the situation in Tigray and the government’s law enforcement operation in the region. Accordingly, he met the President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Sophie Wilmès, U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominique Rabb, AU High Representative and Vice-President Joseph Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Sophie Wilmes and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, Luigi Di Mayo. Aside from delivering the message of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the heads of State and Government in these European countries, the Deputy Prime Minister made briefings on:
The illegal moves of the TPLF Junta Contrary to the political, economic, military, and diplomatic reforms of the last two and a half years and the extensive efforts by the federal government, elders, etc. to bring the group back to normalcy.
The TPLF clique has been sponsoring violent activities in various areas of the country, regardless of the patience and peaceful treatment of the federal government.
The group suddenly attacked the Northern Command of the National Defense Forces and looted military equipment necessitating the law enforcement operation in the region.
The federal government was expediting its law enforcement operation with minimum causalities to civilians
The leaders in Europe have expressed their concern over the protection of civilians and interest to cooperate with the Ethiopian government on humanitarian issues.
Phone Conversations
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen has held phone conversations with the Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Austria, and Denmark.
The federal government law enforcement operation in the Tigray region is over with minimum causalities to civilians.
The government is working with national and international agencies to provide humanitarian assistance to affected people.
The government is working closely with the government of Sudan to get displaced people back to their homes.
Rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the Tigray region is underway.
The manhunt is underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Access to Telecommunication services in some parts of Tigray has been resumed, while Alamata gets full services.
Media Engagements
Ambassador Redwan Hussien gave interviews to Reuters and TRT World on current issues in Tigray.
Ethiopian ambassadors in various countries have appeared on various media outlets to explain current issues in Tigray.
II. GERD
The Ministry and Ethiopian missions all over the world have successfully completed the plan to run several (about 9) joint webinar discussions on various issues related to GERD from November 12-November 30, 2020.
Our Missions in Doha and Rwanda have raised more than 2 million birr in buying bonds and donations to the construction of the dam.
III. Capacity Building
The ministry in collaboration with UNITAR (the United Nations Institute for Training and Research) provided a 4-day e-workshop on Frontier Diplomacy that has been given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia’s staff. The training was aimed at equipping diplomats with the latest skills and knowledge in cyber diplomacy, cybersecurity, and science diplomacy. State Minister, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano gave a closing speech highlighting the Ministry’s commitment to continue to equip its staff with the latest skills and knowledge that would help diplomats to make informed decisions.
Iv. Economic and Citizen-centered Diplomacy
In collaboration with the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), discussions were held with foreign investors and their representatives to address their concerns about their investment in the Tigray region. Subsequent discussions are scheduled to address the protection of lives and investment interests of foreigners in the region.
State Minister Tsion Teklu has participated in online business forums prepared by our missions in Brussels and Moscow. The Brussels webinar aimed at promoting Ethiopian coffee to Belgium and Luxembourg markets and raise awareness about Ethiopian coffee to coffee importers in the stated two countries. Belgium is the 5th destination for Ethiopian Coffee after Germany, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and Japan. The Moscow business forum promoted tourism opportunities in Ethiopia to tour operators in Moscow.
A tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Tourism Ethiopia to collaborate on tourism activities.
Ambassador Dewano Kedir participated and delivered an opening speech at an online forum organized to strengthen Ethiopia’s trade relations with Indonesia and highlighted the potential of our country’s foreign trade and investment.
This week, 325 Ethiopians have returned from Saudi Arabia, 33 of them are children.