Newsletter March 2005

The third and final meeting of the Commission for Africa was held in London on 24^th February 2005 at Lancaster House. All 17 Commissioners, including Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, attended the meeting. After extensive consultations and discussions were held and necessary amendments made, the Commissioners adopted unanimously the 461-page draft report presented to them by the Secretariat of the Commission for Africa. Upon conclusion, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Prime Minister Tony Blair held a press briefing. Mr Blair said “It will be a report that is brutally frank about the reality, but I hope idealistic about what can be done if the will is there.” The final report was launched on 11^th March in both Addis Ababa and London by the two Prime Ministers.

Speaking at the launch press conference in Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Meles said the Commission marked a “moment of re-awakening, buttressed by a new resolve to take concrete measures to address its deep-seated problems as exemplified by the establishment of the African Union and the progress of the AU’s programme NEPAD.”

“We live in an era of globalisation where the stability in one part of the world is inter-dependent with stability in another part of the world,” he said, arguing that the rest of the world, particularly the developed, should do more to support and create an enabling environment for Africa to break the shackles of poverty.

In spite of the membership of the Commission harking from every part of globe, the report was “infused with what can only be described as a quintessentially African spirit and perspective.. It is based on the peace and stability programmes of the African Union, and on the social, economic and political programmes of NEPAD. In other words, it starts by reaffirming Africa’s own agenda and perspective and builds on it based on the latest research findings and experiences in peace-making, the promotion of good governance, and the acceleration of pro-poor growth. Such a report cannot but be infused with an African spirit.”

“It argues that only globalisation that is inclusive and fair can be sustained, and in this context argues that if Africa is marginalised every global citizen stands to lose the full benefits of globalisation.”

The report highlights the need for a dramatic improvement in the quantity and quality of development assistance, the need for more and better debt relief, and enhanced and non-reciprocal market access for African goods and services, as well as other matters of interest to Africa.

“The report, however, makes it abundantly clear that in the final analysis Africans are the authors of their own destiny and every recommendation it makes is based on this fundamental principle,” the PM said. “It is ultimately up to us to ensure its implementation. Nothing and nobody can do for us what we must do for ourselves. It is for this reason that I recommend the report to you fellow Africans and call upon you to fully embrace it.”

Executive Secretary of the African Economic Commission, K.Y. Amoako, who also attended the launch in Addis, said that the report is instrumental in bringing about the desired change of development through ensuring good governance, and building confidence and commitment among African leaders in arresting conflict.

World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn said in a statement: "The World Bank Group strongly endorses the Commission for Africa Report and we hope that the global community will work to advance its principal recommendations. We share the hope expressed in the report that the unacceptable trends of impoverishment and marginalization in the world's poorest region can be reversed... “African governments can build on progress already evident in a number of countries that have reduced conflict, are addressing corruption, and developing national strategies to generate economic growth and cut poverty levels. The Bank Group stands ready to scale up its assistance to Africa, and to work with countries to help them help themselves in attacking the obstacles to greater growth and poverty reduction."

As initiator of the Commission for Africa report, Tony Blair is expected to try and influence the G8 and the European Union to fine tune their market policies in line with the export demands of African countries. More information and the complete report is available on the Commission for Africa website at the address: www.commissionforafrica.org

Ethiopia’s Cultural Minister, Ambassador Teshome Toga, confirmed at a press conference on Friday 8^th April, that the first part of the 160-tonne obelisk, taken by Mussolini in 1937, would arrive back in Axum this month. The early hours of Wednesday 13th April was the scheduled arrival time but, as we go to press, the Italian Government has announced that there will be a slight delay. All three parts will be transported by an Antonov 124 cargo plane, with the further two parts arriving before the end of the month.

Tens of thousands of people are set to greet the obelisk’s long-awaited home-coming, including high-level officials such as the Prime Minister and President, representatives of all religious groups and diplomats. Axum’s hotels will be packed and tour operators have already erected 200 tents to cope with the overflow.

In related news, two sacred paintings that were ripped out of a Holy book by British troops 137 years ago have been returned to Ethiopia. The paintings, which were among artefacts looted by the British force that captured Emperor Tewodros’ mountain fortress of Maqdala in 1868, were given to the Ethiopian Embassy in London by a British QC who wished to remain anonymous. They have since been returned to Ethiopia.

Experts believe that the two full-page illustrations were torn out of a book of the Miracles of Jesus or Mary, both of which are venerated volumes in the literature of the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox church. The lawyer, whose great great uncle was an officer in the invading British force, told officials that he had decided to return the items because his conscience and his children had pressed him to do so.

The pages will be displayed at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies Museum in Addis Ababa university.

Speaking of the return of the paintings on 24^th March, Professor Richard Pankhurst of the Association for the Return of the Maqdala Ethiopian Treasures said:

“We believe that this is an example that should be followed by all institutions that hold Ethiopian loot, among them the British Museum and the Queen’s library in Windsor Castle.”

By far the most valuable item is one of two copies of the Kebra Negast – or Glory of Kings – Ethiopia’s holy book which is held in the British Library. In recent years, the Ethiopian Church and Government have been using diplomatic channels to campaign for the stolen items to be returned. The cumulative value of this plundered loot is estimated by Ethiopian campaigners to be in the region of Ł1.6 billion.

With preparations for the forthcoming federal and regional elections in Ethiopia well underway, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEB) has announced that a total of 25,605,851 voters have registered, of which 12,340,000 are women. The polls, which are to be held on 15^th May, will provide the opportunity for the Ethiopian people to elect representatives to the House of People’s Representatives, in addition to regional councils and city administrators.

The Board also announced that 1,845 party-affiliated and independent candidates will run for seats in the House of People’s Representatives, of which 273 are women, and 3,662 candidates will run for regional councils. 37 political parties are fielding candidates, with a further 423 registered independent candidates standing in the national and regional council elections. The number of registered voters is up from the 20,354,156 that registered for the elections in 2000.

Each registered voter has been issued with an elector’s card bearing his or her name, their place of birth, designated polling station, registration number and signature of thumb print. This card must be produced on polling day in order to vote. All the names of the registered voters have been entered onto an electoral roll. Any person whose name is not included in the final electoral role will not be allowed to vote.

Representatives of the government of Ethiopia, the NEB and the European Union have also finalised the agreement which will allow an EU team to observe the elections. The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa on 13^th March by Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Tekeda Alemu, EU Delegation Leader in Ethiopia, Ambassador Tim Clark, and Chairman of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, Kemal Bedri. The agreement provides the legal basis for the deployment of the EU Election Observation Mission – the first such agreement to be signed by an Ethiopian government.

Dr Tekeda said “this is indeed a historic document and the first of its kind to ever be signed by an Ethiopian government...inconceivable fourteen years ago.”

“This document is being signed with the EU, Ethiopia’s premier development partner, which I believe, is convinced that the elections can be genuine and democratic, when they are truly owned by the country holding the election.”

“I have no doubt that the signing of this document will enhance the partnership between Ethiopia and the EU working towards a common objective based on respect for Ethiopia’s sovereignty, and the dignity and tradition of its people,” he added.

Ato Kemal said the NEB would be pleased to welcome the EU observation mission and to provide the necessary co-operation and assistance to ensure it can fulfil its mandate. The agreement was signed after the NEB published a booklet detailing the codes of conduct for international observers. The booklet defines the credentials required from observers, their rights and responsibilities, ethical and professional obligations. Each observer will be given a copy of the booklet.

● The NEB has announced that the Code of Ethics drawn up to ensure the forthcoming national elections are free and fair has been unanimously accepted by all contesting political parties. Composed of eight Articles, the Code of Ethics was drawn up by the NEB after discussions with foreign experts. It enshrines the right of candidates to their freedom with exemption from injurious consequences, their right to mass media access and details the rules and regulations to which candidates must adhere throughout the electoral process. The Code was unanimously accepted by the Joint Forum, which is composed of representatives from the EPRDF and all contesting political parties, after a series of detailed discussions were held and amendments put forward.

● The NEB has launched a new website and established a press and public information unit, as part of its efforts to provide the public with all the information they may require relating to the upcoming elections. The website - www.electionsethiopia.org - contains information about the organisation and operation of the elections, the legal framework behind it, and will provide regular updates about the electoral process and developments. The press and public information unit will handle media enquiries for the NEB, as well as organise regular press conferences for local and international journalists.

The Ethiopian Ambassador, H.E. Fisseha Adugna, said relations between the two countries have been steadily growing, noting that their two Prime Ministers had met six times in the last 24 months, sharing the common vision of fighting poverty in Africa and bringing durable peace and stability to the continent. The Cultural Evening coincided with Women’s Day, which was being celebrated in Ethiopia. The Ambassador talked of the pride Ethiopia has in achieving gender equality. The evening’s guests, who were given the chance to sample Ethiopian food, wine, beer and coffee, came from a wide range of government departments, non-governmental organisations, investors, UK parliamentarians, scholars, journalists and members of the Ethiopian community and Anglo-Ethiopian Society.

The Ambassador thanked all those individuals who contributed their money, time and effort towards making the evening the success it was, and paid special tribute to the following: Mrs Almaz Anteneh and Mr Muktar Abdulahi; the Lalibella, Abyssinia, Ingocha, Arada, Aksum, Menelik, Pardis and Addis Ethiopian restaurants; Semu and Classic Cafés; as well as the TBA Supermarket, Selamta, Tibeb Intermedia, Ethiopian Worldwide TV, DAE UK, ERKO Ltd and Pan-Afric, Mr John Austin MP, his staff and the British Inter-Parliamentary Union for their support. More than 200 guests attended the event.

The Council of Ministers has endorsed the parliamentary bill that provides for the establishment of a national council to organise the celebrations for the Ethiopian Millennium. The decision was taken during the Council’s regular session on 25^th March.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has announced that the Ethiopian government intends to boost internet coverage from a relatively small number of users to the entire country within three years, declaring that hi-tech information technology lies at the heart of transforming the country.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the opening of the information technology conference called “E-Enablement of Ethiopia: Transformation in Africa” which took place in Addis Ababa on 5th April. The international conference was organised by the Ministry of Capacity Building in collaboration with Cisco Systems, the company with whom the government is working to boost internet coverage.

"We are fully committed to ensuring that as many of our people as possible have this weapon that they need to fight poverty at the earliest possible time," he said. "We plan to ensure universal access and Internet connectivity to all the tens of thousands of rural kebeles [districts] of our country over the next two to three years."

There are currently just 30,000 Internet lines in the country with a population of 71 million people. Within six months that figure will be expanded to 500,000. Meles said that the government had worked to quickly install a broad band satellite network, to digitize the country’s microwave network and expanded its coverage and band-width.

"We have now started laying 10,000 kilometres of a fibre optic cable network throughout the country, which will link up with the submarine cables at Djibouti,” he added. “We expect to complete the programme over the next two to three years."

The government has invested close to US $ 40 million in developing the country’s internet service. The Prime Minister went on to say that even before the communication network had been completed, the government had started to use parts of it to implement their development programmes.

“The effort has begun to pay dividends in the sense that we are beginning to see a dramatic improvement in the quality of education we provide. The same network, which has also been extended to all the over 500 districts in the country, is also being used to provide internet access for the country's high schools.”

"We need high quality education in order to fight poverty. We need to provide high quality training to the thousands of government employees spread throughout the country on a continuous bases. We need to continuously upgrade our teachers, paramedics, agricultural extension workers and all of the rest of government employees if we are to quickly make a dent on poverty," he said.

The Prime Minister also said that while the government had not invested seriously in information and community technology in its early years, as it was convinced that the money should have been used for food security instead, it recognised its worth as a “vital and essential tool for fighting poverty”. The government also plans to promote the use of information and communications technology in healthcare and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Anthony Vonsee, General Manager of Cisco Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, told the conference the new system would allow private and public institutions to take advantage of the internet and empower citizens. "Poverty is rooted in lack of knowledge," he said. "Internet technology is all about the distribution of knowledge." The conference was attended by Ministers, Ambassadors and information technology experts from America, Canada and India, among others.

With frequent droughts and unreliable rainfall, the most obvious way for Ethiopia to increase food production is to further develop its irrigation schemes, said President Girma Wolde Giorgis. The Ethiopian Head of State was speaking on March 22^nd, at the United Nations’ World Water Day, and at the launch of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” (2005 to 2015) campaign in the presence of government and UN officials in Addis Ababa.

“In areas where water is scarce and rains are erratic, rainwater harvesting is being widely implemented to supply farmers with this important commodity," he added.

President Girma commended the importance accorded by the Millennium Development Goals to food security, poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and providing sustainable access to safe drinking water. He said Ethiopia's Water Sector Development Programme had been designed with a view to addressing the water sector challenges of the country, and was based on the objectives of environmental conservation, integrated water resources management and economic efficiency.

countries feasible. Ethiopian Minister of Water Resources Shiferaw Jarso said the work to tackle the challenges in the water sector was underway, noting the full development of more than 90,000 hectares in the Awash basin and the 7,000 hectares in Koga, with studies for developing a further 200,000 hectares in progress.

The UN launched the International Decade of Action campaign in order to place greater international focus on water and water issues and with a view to re-affirming the commitment of member countries to achieve the water-related targets of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. One of the targets of Millennium Development Goals set in 2000, also deals with water issues, calling for the number of people that do not have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation to be halved by 2015.

One of these targets is to halve the number of people that do not have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. The nations of the world have promised to meet this goal as part of their Millennium Goals commitment, and the UN-Water, which is coordinating the 'Water for Life' Decade, 2005-2015, is committed to help its Member States achieve them.

Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM, began it’s twice weekly service to Addis Ababa on 31^st March 2005, deepening relations between the Netherlands and Ethiopia. Flight KL541 Amsterdam-Khartoum-Addis Ababa-Amsterdam departs from Bole International Airport on Thursdays and Saturdays on an extended Boeing 767. The launch of the new service comes as recent trade relations between Ethiopia and the Netherlands have been booming, with around 25 Dutch-Ethiopian companies active in the Ethiopian floriculture sector.

At a press conference on 18^th March launching the service, H.E. Rob Vermaas - the Netherlands Ambassador - said that the new flight is a part of an agreement reached between the two governments, which previously saw Ethiopian Airlines begin flights to Amsterdam in December 2001. The aim is “to support and expand trade relations and investment between our two countries.” The recent international floricultural exhibition held in the United Nations Conference Hall in Addis Ababa (see following article) and successful trade missions between Ethiopia and the Netherlands are also expected to encourage greater numbers of Dutch businessman into the country.

Speaking at the recent press launch KLM Eastern Africa General Manager, Pieter de Man, said: "KLM and Ethiopian have signed an agreement whereby on special occasions, passengers from Amsterdam could arrive in Addis through KLM and be passed on to Ethiopian Airlines to be taken to their destinations, and vice versa. This does not mean that we are full fledged partners, but we do have a commercial agreement”, he said, adding that KLM’s flights would enable Ethiopia to expand the export of goods such as flowers, vegetables and fruits on to the Dutch and European markets. The Boeing 767 which will operate the service is equipped with enough space to transport 220 passengers and still have enough space in its hold to carry 15,000 kilos of cargo, assuming that the flight is a full one. If the number of passengers is low, the plane can carry up to 30,000 kilos of cargo.

"We believe that this new flight service will assist the blooming flower industry in Ethiopia. The cargo space on the first flight has already been sold out, demonstrating the demand for the service, and illustrating that there would be greater contact between the Netherlands and the blooming horticulture market in Ethiopia.”

Ethiopia’s increasing competitiveness on the floricultural market has been noted by others on the continent, with the Ugandan Flower Exporters’ Association recently reporting that investors had praised the country’s attractive incentives. One exporter said: "Ethiopian government officials help investors identify land for use, a contract is signed and two weeks later, a road is cut and electricity connected. The one-stop investment centre ensures that all necessary paperwork is processed quickly and an investment permit issued within 10 days. In addition, the grower is given a tax holiday and access to long-term loans (over 10 years) at a 7% interest rate.” KLM added: "Ethiopia has the potential to become a major tourist site and some tour operators operating out of Holland have given me a very positive response by welcoming the idea.”

A first-of-its-kind floricultural exhibition was opened in the presence of PM Meles Zenawi at the United Nations Conference Hall. The two-day exhibition was organised by the Ethiopian Flower, Fruits and Vegetables Producers and Exporters Association in collaboration with the Holland-based company, HPP, and sought to demonstrate to foreign investors how Ethiopia’s environment was ideal for the cultivation of flowers. Association Chairman, Tsegaye Abebe, said the exhibition would also create opportunities for representatives of flower-purchasing companies to meet market-seeking producers and share information relating to floricultural development. The participating companies are involved in flower cultivation and related industries such as the manufacture of greenhouses, fertilizers and packaging. Seventy companies - of which ten were Ethiopian - took part in the exhibition. It was estimated that more than 4,000 people visited the exhibition. More than 12,000 resident Ethiopians are provided with casual and permanent job opportunities in 13 floricultural development sites across the country. A delegation of 31 foreign investors will be making a week-long visit, to assess the potential for further investment.

Coffee exports to Japan increased by 18% in 2004, earning the country more than US $60 million. Ethiopia exported more than 37,916 tonnes of coffee to Japan in 2004 making Japan the third largest importer of Ethiopian coffee, after the United States and Germany and is rising on average by more than 4% annually, demonstrating the potential for Ethiopian exports there to increase.

The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) has begun providing broadband internet services. The new service, which began operating on the 10^th March 2005, replaces the old ‘narrowband’ service and has taken six months to implement at a cost of 7m birr. The upgrade was made to remove inefficiencies in the old service with its usage capacity of less than 15,000 customers. The new improved service can be used by more than 100,000 customers, who will use the low-price ETC tariffs to watch live or recorded television and radio programmes and educational media broadcasts. Users can also take part in business meetings and conferences.

ETC has also signed a $48.5 million deal with telecommunications company Ericsson for its GSM Expander solutions service, which will increase mobile phone operator coverage and network capacity in Addis Ababa and around Ethiopia. It is tailored to provide cost efficient coverage in high growth markets, by reducing the number of radio sites it uses, while maintaining an extensive level of radio coverage. "We are very proud to further develop our relationship with ETC by supporting the expansion of its network," said Moncef Mettiji, Country Manager, Ericsson Ethiopia. The expansion project will be completed by mid-2005.

The Ethiopian Government and the World Bank have signed an agreement which provides US $184.9 million in loans and grants. Signed on 10^th March by Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) and Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director the agreement makes available a loan of $19 million and grant of $5 million to finance the Private Sector Capacity Building Project, which aims to facilitate the increased participation of the private sector in Ethiopia’s economy through improving productivity and competitiveness.

The remaining $160.9m takes the form of a loan which will finance the second Road Sector Development and will focus on upgrading the Assela-Dodola, Shashemane-Goba, Gobgob-Woldiya, Adwa-Shire federal trunk and link roads, as well as the construction of the Magna-Mechara, Assossa/Sherkole-Guba inter-state and regional rural roads. The latest agreements form part of the total 9.5 billion Birr (more than US $1 billion) in grants and loans that has been secured in the last six months. The total amount secured exceeds the figure for the same period last year because of the support, by development partners and financial institutions, of Ethiopia’s development policies, strategies and programmes.

Russia is to cancel US $1.104 billion of the debt owed by Ethiopia. An agreement was signed by Ethiopian Minister of Finance Sufian Ahmed and Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin at a ceremony held in Moscow in March. The agreement stipulates that while most of its debt would be cancelled, Ethiopia will pay the remaining $160 million debt over the next 30 years. This latest debt cancellation comes after the Paris Club creditors agreed to write off Ethiopia’s debt, after the country fulfilled the conditions for reaching the completion under the enhanced framework of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in April 2004.

A new HIV/AIDs helpline has been launched in Ethiopia to provide accurate information, counselling and free referrals to callers from across the country.

The "Wegen AIDS Talkline" is now receiving on average 1,800 calls every day since it became available nationwide on 10^th March. A radio and television campaign will promote the helpline and encourage more people to use the service which provides information on the location of testing centres, ways to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus and treatment options such as anti-retroviral therapy.

Callers may dial 952 from any landline in the country to connect to the service, which has been operating in Addis Ababa as a pilot scheme since December 2004.

"It will have a great impact considering the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS in the country and that many people are not discussing the issue at home. There is nothing comparable to it," said a spokesman. According to government figures, around 1.5 million people in the country are HIV positive, while the national prevalence rate is 4.4%.

The Ministry of Health has announced that two more rounds of polio immunisation are to be conducted during the first weeks of April and May. Targeting 14.7 million children under the age of five, the immunisations will be administered to maintain the country’s almost total eradication of the polio virus. According to the plans, 100,000 volunteers and health workers will go door-to-door to give the oral polio vaccine throughout the country. Ethiopia had been polio free for four years, until two confirmed cases appeared in the Tigray region, which are believed to be linked to the virus currently found in Sudan.

Education Minister Genet Zewde laid a cornerstone for the new university in Robe town, Bale zone of the Oromia State, after announcing that construction work on thirteen new universities around Ethiopia would begin immediately. Speaking at the event, the Chief of Oromia State government Juneidin Sado said the new university would have considerable significance for the people of Oromia, as it forms part of the government’s efforts to extricate the country from the grip of poverty and produce sufficient skilled workers to benefit from the development of the country.

Minister Genet said higher learning institutions should be “centres of excellence that produce responsible citizens, who are innovative and contribute to national development and democratisation.”
She said that encouraging results had been achieved over the past years in the development of higher learning institutions, and added that thirteen additional universities will become operational within the next five years. The universities will be opened in Nekemt, Assela, Sodo, Dilla, Dire Dawa, Jijjiga, Kombolcha, Debre Markos, Woldiya, Axum, Mizan/Tepi, Robe and Semera. The new university is to be named after Wodawolabu – an important repository of the Oromo spiritual and political life from the 15th to the 19th century. The ceremony was attended by government officials, investors and elders.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that it is to spend close to US $60 million on various development programmes in Ethiopia over the course of 2005. UNICEF Country Director, Bjorn Ljungqvist, said the funding would be spread between education, health, food security, HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention work. According to Mr Ljungqvist, UNICEF’s programmes will benefit seven million children, of whom half a million are under the age of five. UNICEF is currently working with the relevant government departments and administrative bodies in helping to provide basic health services for children in resettlement sites, which the UN organisation recognises as a key part of the food security programme implemented by the Ethiopian government.

Food Programme, the Ministry of Health, the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission and regional health bureaux in a bid to strengthen the health service and improve the delivery of nutritious food-stuffs for children in areas exposed to food shortages. The Country Director also said that UNICEF has been in discussions with Ethiopian officials to identify priority areas for the aid, and commended the government’s food assistance spending plans.

The British Ambassador in Addis Ababa, H.E. Bob Dewar, has called upon Ethiopians educated in the United Kingdom to join efforts to bring about greater developmental changes in Ethiopia.

Speaking at the launch of the United Kingdom Alumni Association of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dewar said the association could also play an active role in the sharing of information and promotion of a greater understanding of the cultural life of both Ethiopia and the UK. Supported by both the British Embassy and the British Council, the Association aims to bring together Ethiopians who were educated at UK institutions of higher education, attaining bachelor or higher level degrees. The association will maintain a professional and cultural network between members, promote and share information on the cultural life of both countries, enable networking between members, provide a forum for academic debate on matters affecting both countries, improve business and development partnerships between UK and Ethiopia, and build and share packages of benefits and privileges for members.

A steering group for the formation of the association was formed in December 2004 after a meeting held at the British Embassy, which worked out a detailed structure and constitution of the Association in time for its formal launch this year. If you are interested in receiving more information about the progress of the UK Alumni Association in Ethiopia, as well as taking part in its activities, you can email ukalumni@et.britishcouncil.org

The 109^th Victory of Adwa was marked across Ethiopia on 2^nd March, with special celebrations in Menelik Square in Addis Ababa. Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives Dawit Yohannes laid a wreath at the Menelik monument in the presence of representatives of governmental and civic organizations and numerous Addis Ababa residents.

Arkebe Equbay, the Mayor of Addis Ababa, addressed the crowds saying this year’s commemoration was unique because it falls on the eve of the return of the Axum obelisk - looted by Italian Fascists in the 1930s – which was a source of great pride to the nation. Cannons were fired during the commemoration, while brass bands played music, among which was a song written by the students of the prestigious Arbegnoch [Patriots’] School.

The Battle of Adwa, which took place on 1^st and 2^nd of March in 1896, was one of the most significant turning points in the history of modern Africa, when Ethiopian forces under Emperor Menelik II defeated an invading force of Italian troops. In an age of European colonialism over Africa, it demonstrated Africa was not simply a stomping-ground for potential colonial powers, and led to Ethiopia’s recognition as a sovereign independent state.

356 peasant households from Sidamo and Tembaro zones in Southern State (SNNPS) have voluntarily moved to Detta woreda in Kaffa zone. The settlers arrived at six centres in mid-March and have each been provided with a temporary shelter, two hectares of land and a vegetable plot. 347 farmers from Angacha and Kacha-Bira woredas in Kembata-Tenbaro zone have been engaged in agricultural activities in the woreda since last December. Over 4,000 family heads who were settled in the woreda last year have begun to supply their products to market after satisfying their own needs.

● The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of its mission in Ethiopian and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15^th September 2005, after unanimously adopting resolution 1586 (2005) on 15^th March. The resolution reminded both Governments that they bore the primary responsibility for the implementation of the Algiers Agreements and the decision of the Boundary Commission, and called upon Eritrea to accept the good offices of Secretary General Kofi Annan and cooperate with his Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea, Lloyd Axworthy.

●The Ethiopian government and the European Union have signed a €30 million grant agreement on 1^st April which is to be used for the procurement of food aid and crops, to be purchased from local markets. The agreement was signed by the Ethiopian Ambassador to Belgium, Berhane Gebre Kristos and the EU’s Development Aid Coordination Office Director, Francisco De Angelinas. The agreement will be executed over the course of this year and 2006.

● Mayor of the Addis Ababa City, Arkebe Equbay has won the 2005 African Mayor Award. The prestigious award was conferred at the annual Broadcasting Network of Africa ceremony in Johannesburg on the 31st of March. The Ethiopian Consul to Pretoria Mebrhat Beyene collected the award on Mayor Arkebe’s behalf. Arkebe was named African Mayor of the year for his contributions to furthering good governance in Addis Ababa, for his efforts to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, to improve revenue collection, to curb the shortage of housing and to make the city cleaner and healthier.

●The Bob Marley Foundation and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have donated $35,000 for the construction of youth centres in Addis Ababa. The money forms part of the funds raised by events held in connection with Bob Marley’s 60^th birthday and celebrations that took place in Ethiopia earlier this year. The cheque was presented to Addis City Mayor Arkebe by Rita Marley and UNICEF country Director, Bjorn Lijungqvist on 7^th March. Mayor Arkebe said that the city administration plans to construct some 500 youth centres offering internet access and HIV/AIDS counselling over the next five years with the assistance of the government, NGOs and the public.

● The number of elephants in the Babille Elephant Sanctuary has risen from 60 to 242 according to a census carried out in January 2005. The dwindling number of birds and mammals in the sanctuary has increased as human encroachment had diminished. Babille elephant sanctuary is home to more than 250 bird and 22 mammal species.

More than 400 animal and primate remains estimated to be between 3.7 and 4.5 million years old have been discovered in Galili, in the Somali region. The discovery was announced at a briefing held on the 4^th March by Professor Gerhard Weber of the Paleo-Anthropological Research (PAR) Team, and will help to form a better idea of the species that shared the earth with early mankind. Among the diverse fauna find includes the remains of antelopes, giraffes, pigs and elephants which would potentially make Galili a very important paleonthological and paleoanthropological region in Africa. The Galili area has been home to more than 1,400 catalogued specimens which are now housed at the National Museum of Ethiopia.

The BBC Two series ‘Around the World in 80 Treasures’ presented by Dan Cruickshank featured Ethiopia in the seventh episode of its ten part run – and the country has left quite an impression. In an episode entitled “Jordan to Ethiopia”, broadcast on Monday 4th April and repeated on Saturday 9th April, Cruickshank went in search of the Ark of the Covenant. Along the way he visited Lalibella and the monastery at Debre Damo. A book has been published by Weidenfeld Nicolson accompanying the series, priced at Ł20. Whilst attending a lecture at the Royal Geographic Society in March, Cruickshank named Ethiopia as his favourite country out of all those he had visited while making the series. He was responding to a question from the audience, before recommending people visit the country “before it changes too much!”

Ethiopia has launched a Tourism Professionals Association. Speaking at the launch, Ethiopian Tourism Commissioner, Yusuf Abdullahi Sukur said the Association has been formed at a time when tourism in Ethiopia has, at long last, been accorded an enhanced profile commensurate with its potential. The adoption of the new Tourism Paradigm by the government, which places tourism at the centre of its Poverty Reduction Strategy shows the government’s commitment to placing tourism high on the agenda.

Yusuf said the Commission had set up a vision for Ethiopia (vision 20/20), defined its mission, formulated a tourism policy and drawn up a strategic plan and management for tourism, with the aim of making Ethiopia one of the top ten tourism destinations in Africa. He also called on the Association and its members to popularize tourism in Ethiopia and to help introduce and maintain professionalism in the sector, necessary ingredients for the rapid, sustainable and equitable development that Ethiopia needs.

The Tourism Professionals Association President, Dr. Tewdros Atlabachew, said contributing to the advancement of tourism in Ethiopia, creating awareness of tourism amongst the peoples of Ethiopia as well as contributing to the conservation and sustainable utilization of tourism resources constitute some of the objectives of the Association. Professor Richard Pankhurst presented a paper on the unique place of Ethiopia in the history of the world beginning from the discovery of Lucy through to the 20th century.

The Ethiopian team returned in triumph from the 33^rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Saint-Etienne/Saint-Galmier with an eight-medal haul, with the short and long course double victories of Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba leading the way. Their performances warranted the hero’s welcome the team received upon their return to Ethiopia. In front of a crowd of more than 18,500 spectators, Kenenisa finished first in the Men’s short race on the Saturday, completing the 4km course in 11 minutes and 33 seconds, also taking gold in the Men’s long race on the Sunday, with a finishing time of 35 minutes and 6 seconds - fellow Ethiopians Abebe Dinkesa and Dejene Birhanu came fourth and sixth respectively.

Tirunesh Dibaba led the field in the women’s competitions finishing first in both the Women’s short and long races, with times of 13:15 and 26:34 respectively, while Gelete Burika came first in the junior women’s race in a time of 20:12. Dibaba's victory helped Ethiopia win the team race by a single point, ahead of Kenya, with the United States third. Werknesh Kidane came in second in the women’s short race with 13:16, and in third place in the long race with 26:37. Meselech Melkamu finished just two seconds later in fourth place.

Previous to his double victory at St-Etienne, Kenenisa held the men’s record for the most IAAF medals held, while compatriot Gete Wami held the women’s record for the most IAAF medals won by an individual. His latest triumph sees Kenenisa replace Gete as IAAF champion. Kenenisa’s performance saw him cast aside all doubts about his fitness and ambition after the tragic death of his fiancee, Alem Techale, earlier this year. "Joy comes frequently in life but grief on this level is something that you encounter very rarely," he said, "so to come here to this competition, where I first made my name, and to win after losing Alem is a very significant victory for me."

Published by the Press Office, Ethiopian Embassy, 17 Princes Gate, London SW7 1PZ