Newsletter Sept Oct 2005

Meles Zenawi has been re-elected as Prime Minister of Ethiopia for a third five-year term at the inaugural meeting of the House of Peoples Representatives (HPR). The newly elected parliament was officially opened on 10^th October, with both chambers, the HPR and the House of the Federation, meeting in a joint session in the morning which was addressed by Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis, before holding their regular sessions as separate assemblies in the afternoon. The opening session was held in the presence of foreign dignitaries, religious leaders and other invited guests.

The HPR, which sat on 10^th October for the time since the national and regional elections on 15^th May and 21^st August, endorsed Meles’s nomination as Prime Minister with a show of hands, after which he took an oath of office. The task of electing a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker was also undertaken, with the former Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Teshome Toga, elected as Speaker, and Shitaye Minale, his Deputy - marking the first time a woman has held the post.

The opening session was attended by all 327 members of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (the EPRDF), forty-four members of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) - which included its leaders Dr Beyene Petros and Dr Merea Gudaina – as well as ten members of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement and six members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD). Of particular note, the new Parliament now has 116 female MPs, 107 of which are members of the EPRDF – marking a 25% increase on the previous parliament, and the highest ever female representation.

Meanwhile, the inaugural session of the House of Federation, held elections for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, with Degife Bula and Mohammed Siree elected respectively.

The following day, the HPR endorsed the Ethiopian Premier’s proposed new Cabinet - or Council of Ministers – which reads as follows;

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Addisu Legesse; Minister of Foreign Affairs - Seyoum Mesfin; Minister Finance and Economic Development - Sufian Ahmed; Minister of Health - Dr.Tewodros Adhanom; Minister of Education - Dr. Sintayehu Woldemikael; Minister of Trade and Industry - Girma Biru; Minister of Defense - Kuma Demekesa; Minister of Information - Berhan Hailu; Minister of Labor and Social Affairs - Hassen Abdella; Minister of Capacity Building - Tefera Walwa; Minister of Justice - Assefa Keseto; Minister of Transport and Communications - Junedi Sado; Minister of Federal Affairs - Siraj Fegeta; Minister of Works and Urban Development - Dr. Kasu Ilala; Minister Mines and Energy - Alemayehu Tegenu; Minister of Revenue - Melaku Fenta; Minister of Water Resources - Asefaw Dingam; Minister of Women’s Affairs - Hirut Dilebo; Minister of Youth and Sports - Aster Mamo; Minister of Culture and Tourism - Mahmud Dirir.

The new list of State Ministers was also announced later in the afternoon and reads as follows;

State Ministers of Capacity Building - Fikru Desalegn and Belete Negeeso; State Ministers of Education - Dr. Adhana Haile, Wondewosen Kiflu and Fuad Ibrahim; State Ministers of Trade and Industry - Tadesse Haile and Mohammed Tussa; State Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development - Dr. Abera Deressa, Ahmed Nasir and Yacob Yana; State Minister of Transport and Communications - Getachew Mengiste; State Minister of Works and Urban Development - Arkeb Equbay; State Ministers of Finance and Economic Development - Mekonnen Manyazewal; Ambassdor Brehanu Kebede and Mamo Getu; State Minister of Revenue - Tezera Wodadjo; State Minister of Federal Affairs - Maeregu Hailemariam; State Minister of Health - Dr. Kebede Worku; State Ministers of Justice - Dr. Hashim Tofik and Simegn Wubie; State Ministers of Defense - General Haile Tilahun, Sultan Mohammed and Kasahun Dendir; State Ministers of Foreign Affairs - Dr. Tekeda Alemu and Nega Tsegaye; State Minister of Information - Tesema Fotee; State Minister of Water Resources - Adugna Jebessa; State Minister of Youth and Sports - Abdissa Yadeta; State Minister of Women’s Affairs - Uboh Mohammed Hussein; State Ministers of Culture and Tourism - Tadelech Dalecha and Mohamed Ge’as; State Minister of Mines and Energy - Sinkenesh Ijigu; State Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs - Zenebu Tadesse and Mohammed Maadin Ali.

Following the announcements of the new Council of Ministers and State Ministers, the Office of the Ethiopian Prime Minister announced the appointment of seven new Federal Government officials, each of whom will hold the rank of Minister. Newayekiristos Gebrab has been appointed Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister while Abay Tsehaye has been appointed Public Organisation and Participation Advisor to the Prime Minister. The former Minister of Information, Bereket Simon, has been appointed as Public Relations Advisor to the Prime Minister and Dr Fasil Nahom has been appointed as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister. Mulugeta Alemseged has been appointed National Security Affairs Advisor, while Birhanu Adelo has been appointed Minister of Cabinet Affairs. Finally, Professor Mesfin Abebe has been appointed as advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Since his re-election, Prime Minister Meles has received congratulations from a number of world leaders. British Premier Tony Blair expressed happiness at Meles’ re-election and urged opposition parties to join the parliament, adding that the UK government supports dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties. Outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder conveyed his best wishes to Meles for every success for the years ahead, while Japanese Prime Minister expressed his hope that, under Meles’ outstanding leadership, the efforts towards peace and stability in the Horn of Africa would be further strengthened. President Chirac of France said his country has taken delight in witnessing democracy at work in Ethiopia, and Polish Prime Minister Merek Belka wished Meles good health, happiness and success. The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, also congratulated Meles on his re-election. In his message, Mr Barroso also underlined the full commitment of the European Commission in its support to Ethiopia “at this crucial moment of her long and great history.”

"The European Commission looks forward to working with you, your Government and the newly constituted Parliament," the statement concluded.

With the final results released in September by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), the 2005 federal and regional elections were successfully concluded. With the final round of results released and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) pronounced the largest party, representatives from the international community expressed praise for the country’s third elections.

The Ambassadors Donor Group issued a statement on 13^th September which commended the ‘historic’ elections. The statement was endorsed by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

“We welcome the efforts of all parties to bring a new era of multi-party politics to Ethiopia, and look forward to a dynamic Parliament in which the opposition has a strong voice and there is a spirit of inclusiveness and cooperation. Most of all, we congratulate the Ethiopian people for their demonstrated commitment to democracy,” the statement read.

“We urge all parties to take their seats in the National Assembly with good will and mutual respect, to express the interests and views of all Ethiopians in a vibrant multi-party Parliament. As Ethiopia's partners, we stand ready to support the development of Ethiopian democracy.”

The US-based Carter Center, which sent teams of observers across Ethiopia to monitor the elections, issued its final statement on 15^th September, ahead of its report, in which it said the election process had “demonstrated significant advances in Ethiopia's democratisation process, including most importantly the introduction of a more competitive electoral process, which could potentially result in a pluralistic, multi-party political system.”

“Ethiopians saw and understood that public policy appropriately receives debate, that public media cover multiple points of view, that voters' choices can result in the election of opposition members of parliament, and that local administration may be in the hands of a party other than the ruling party.”

“The Carter Center's assessment of the elections suggests that the majority of the constituency results based on the May 15 polling and tabulation are credible and reflect competitive conditions.”

And on 16th September, the US State Department issued a statement welcoming the conclusion of Ethiopia’s “landmark parliamentary elections” which “stand out as a milestone in creating a new, more competitive multi-party political system in one of Africa’s largest and most important countries.”

“We call on all newly elected members of parliament to take their seats, and to serve under Ethiopia’s constitution. We urge the Ethiopian government and all political parties to address deficiencies in the electoral process...and to cooperate in advancing democracy in Ethiopia” the statement concluded.

In his address to the joint opening of the new parliament, Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis hailed the third democratic federal and regional elections which took place in May and August.

In his speech to the House of Peoples Representatives and the House of the Federation, which was televised throughout Ethiopia, President Girma congratulated all members of both Houses - who are “duty bound to take their seats and serve the people who have entrusted them with this great responsibility” - on their success in the elections, which he described as free, fair and transparent and a process in which the peoples of the country “participated with great commitment and a sense of ownership.”

The President also looked to the challenges ahead for the parliament. He praised the efforts to improve democratisation and good governance over the last 14 years which have achieved encouraging results, but stressed that it was a continuous effort and that, in the next several years, the “government’s focus will have to be on solving our shortcomings in policy implementation and good governance as well as enhancing the democratic culture.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to call upon all Ethiopians to ensure that the democratization and good governance which are already in place continue unabated with their focused and unrelenting participation.”

The President went on to call for redoubled efforts to sustain and augment the ongoing development successes, for the Ethiopian people and stakeholders to “work hand in hand with the government to implement, further, our economic plan so as to achieve the results that we have set as our goals in the shortest possible time.”

Acknowledging that such efforts also depended on sustainable peace, the President noted the willingness of the government to talk to those opposition parties that have so far acted illegally, but share the desire to pursue their electoral goals in a peaceful and legal manner, as well the efforts to resolving the dispute with Eritrea in a peaceful and constructive manner, before finishing his speech by wishing both house of parliament a successful and productive term.

A full copy of the speech can be found in the Archive section of the website, under Speeches.

Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and Seyoum Mesfin, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, both addressed the Sixtieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, held in September.

In his speech to the high-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly on 15^th September, Prime Minister Meles reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to the successful reform of the UN. Meles described Ethiopia’s experience over the last five as demonstrating that, with the “optimum mobilisation of domestic resources” and the requisite international support, countries can realise the MDGs.

“There is no doubt, however,” he said, “that it is indispensable that countries such as Ethiopia require effective international cooperation consistent with the commitment made in the Millennium Declaration and at Monterrey, to be able to be on track to achieve the MDGs.”

“While it is obvious that the primary responsibility for achieving the MDGs belongs to the concerned countries, it is also the obligation of partners to make it [achieving the MDGs] possible for the low-income countries that have demonstrated the readiness to discharge their responsibilities to overcome the poverty trap.”

Meles also took the opportunity to thank UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for establishing the historic initiative back in 2000, and commended the work that has been carried out since by Professor Jeffery Sachs and colleagues at the Millennium Project.

Although the Prime Minister said he was pleased with the progress made at the G8 summit at Gleneagles and with the consensus building in the UN for the fight against poverty, he expressed his deep concern that it seemed as though efforts towards the full cancellation of debt of highly indebted poor countries were going backward.

With 170 heads of State or Government in attendance, the 2005 UN World Summit, which was held from 14^th to 16^th September, was the largest gathering of world leaders in history.

During his stay in New York Prime Minister Meles also held discussions with leaders and senior government officials from various countries and representatives from international organisations, including Kofi Annan, as well as former US President Bill Clinton.

Meanwhile, in his address to the General Assembly on 23^rd September, Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin expressed the belief of the Ethiopian government that the MDGs were “neither unrealistic nor unduly ambitious”, and echoed PM Meles’ sentiment that international support was important. However, he acknowledged that no amount of international co-operation could achieve these targets, “unless the domestic conditions are fulfilled in all the relevant areas. We in Ethiopia have been doing our level best in this regard. We have spared no effort to change the economic situation in our country for the better, our primary focus being the rural sector. Ethiopia has made a relentless effort to implement the Millennium Development Goals.”

Seyoum also reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, saying the country rejected terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations”, before going on to discuss the situation with Eritrea, which he described as “our only source of disappointment” in our “deep aspiration for peace.”

Referring to the five-point border proposal of November 2004, which was welcomed by the international community, he said that Ethiopia has “the political will to move forward.”

“We invite Eritrea to join us in this effort. Ethiopia does not believe at all in saber rattling, least of all between countries who should have little time to spare from fighting extreme poverty.”

You can read full transcript of both addresses to the UN on the Embassy website, by visiting the Speeches section of the Archive pages.

The African Development Bank (ADB) has agreed a loan of US$56 million with the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPC) which is to be used for the construction of the Ethio-Djibouti electricity line. Work has already commenced on the electricity line, which will measure 283 km, between Ethiopia and the Sudan, and it is expected that the complete line between Djibouti, Ethiopia and the Sudan will be finished within the next three years. The ADB gave the go-ahead for the loan after feasibility studies approved the project.

Djibouti’s Electric Power Corporation has agreed to cover $25.65 million of the total sum, leaving the balance to be met by the EEPC. The project will enable Ethiopia to sell electric power for the first time, as well as allow Djibouti to access hydroelectric power.

The EEPC has also signed a 450 million Birr agreement for the installation of the Alamata-Kombolcha-Kotebe-Kaliti power transmission line and the construction of a power distribution stations. The agreement was signed on 17^th October between EEPC General Manager, Mihret Debebe, S.D. Khanan, the General Manager of Indian company KALPATARU Power Transmission Limited, and the Project Manager of Chinese WANBAO Engineering Corporation, Qi Ye.

The 465 kilometre length 230 KV electricity line and the two power distribution stations are expected to be completed within the next 30 months.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Manager Mihret said that the line would be used to supply electricity generated at the Tekeze power station to the central power store.

P.M. Communications Special Report on Ethiopia has recently been made available on-line. Originally published on 7th July 2005 and distributed as a supplement with the UK Daily Telegraph newspaper, the Special Report covers various topics, from economic reform and insurance and banking to communications development. To see the July 2005 Special Report on Ethiopia, visit http://www.pmcomm.com/ethiopia/index.htm

Ethiopian telephone numbers have changed

In order to meet the increasing demands on the telecommunications network in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation has changed all existing landline and mobile telephone numbers. The new numbers became effective on Saturday 17^th September 2005.

Land (or fixed) line and mobile numbers changed from six to seven digits and area codes have changed from two to three digits. The Ethioindex website has set up a telephone number convertor, which you can find by going to www.ethioindex.com/convert or by following the links on the Embassy website.

A series of earthquakes in the remote area of the Afar region have resulted in eruptions of the previously dormant Mount Erte Ale volcano. The largest of the quakes occurred on 24^th September and registered 5.5 on the Richter scale, according to seismologists at the University of Addis Ababa, who believe the geological events to have been caused by the expansion of tectonic plates under the Great Rift Valley.

Although there was no immediate damage and no loss of human life, about five hundred cattle died when the mountain’s slopes and surrounding areas, which are used by local nomads for grazing cattle, were covered with blankets of ash. Local authorities have evacuated the affected areas to ensure the safety of the local inhabitants, who have been provided with humanitarian supplies following the loss of livestock.

Mount Erte Ale is Ethiopia’s only active volcano, but it has been largely dormant for the past six decades.

The tenth Addis Chamber International Trade Fair is to be held from 23^rd February to 1^st March 2006, at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Centre. Organised by the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, the “Quality and standards for competitiveness” trade fair is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Bank of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Investment Commission, Ethiopian Airlines and the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation, among others. The fair organisers hope that it will create an opportunity to introduce Ethiopian business enterprises and their products/services to the general public and the international business community, bring together technology suppliers and buyers to facilitate the transfer of technology, and serve as a platform for exploring the possibilities of joint venture investments in Ethiopia, while promoting the investment potential of the country.

A large number of products will be exhibited, from machinery and agricultural equipment, to handicraft products, while information on investment opportunities and tourist attractions will be on display. There will also be a leather and leather clothes fashion show and a cultural show featuring traditional and modern music.

An international development organisation which backs the modernisation of Ethiopia's agricultural sector and food security capacity has been officially inaugurated by President Girma Wolde Giorgis and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

The PRAXIS Ethiopia Alliance, an autonomous international coalition of educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, and technical advisors dedicated to community-driven restorative development and poverty reduction in Ethiopia, was launched on 27/28^th September 2005 at the Sheraton Addis.

Opening the meeting, President Girma Wolde Giorgis described the PRAXIS Ethiopia Alliance as a “World Bank of ideas and innovations” and urged its members to contribute to development in Ethiopia and to the war against poverty.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Meles praised the Alliance, stating his belief that it would significantly contribute to the development and poverty reduction efforts underway in Ethiopia.

The Prime Minister, who is also the patron of the Alliance, went on to say that "the modernization of our agricultural sector and the creation of the capacity for food security in our country is a top priority for Ethiopians. There are a number of areas with regard to the agriculture-led industrialization programme that Ethiopia follows. With this respect, the Alliance is extremely useful.”

The Alliance came about after development professionals from around the world met in January 2002 in Addis Ababa in to take part in the Ethio-Forum 2002. Sponsored by the Ethiopian Social Rehabilitation and Development Fund, the forum sought to provide the opportunity to share insights on how best to help the country recover from years of drought, famine and disease, as well as share success stories on a wide range of development issues, such as pest control, the construction of small scale irrigation systems, and the strengthening of education and healthcare.

Praxis Ethiopia members believe that good health, food security, education, and technology will contribute to a strong social and business infrastructure that will restore this great nation to its proper role in the world economy. To this end, members work to; raise the world’s awareness of significant developments in Ethiopia; help others understand that people in developing countries are the best qualified to identify their needs; maintain an international network of academics, scientists, entrepreneurs and technical advisors to help rebuild Ethiopia, and promote opportunities for student and faculty exchange programmes to share training and education so to improve the quality of life in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia and the European Commission (EC) have signed a loan agreement which will be used for food security projects in those parts of the country that are affected by accute food shortages, as part of the government’s Safety-Net Programme. The loan agreement, worth 623.3 million Birr, was signed on 25^th October by Sofian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, and EC Ambassador Tim Clarke at a ceremony in the Ministry in Addis Ababa. The five-year programme aims to ensure food self-sufficiency among farmers through sustainable community development activities in 262 woredas where there is a deficit of food, and has an annual budget of 1.35 billion Birr.

The Ethiopian Tourism Commission (ETC) has announced a 25% budget increase to further boost the country’s developing tourism industry, as it released figures that show tourist numbers have increased 17% in the last year.

Speaking at a press conference held before World Tourism Day on 27^th September, Tourism Commissioner Yousef Abdulahi Sukar said that more than 200,000 foreign tourists had visited the country in the 2004/2005 financial year and spoke of the Government’s plan to make Ethiopia one of the top ten tourist destinations in Africa by 2012.

After revealing that Ethiopia had earnt more than US $100 million from tourism over the last twelve months, Commissioner Yousef went onto say that the country had undertaken more extensive work to exploit its tourism potential further, part of which will include a big exhibition in the United States, to promote positive images of Ethiopia.

In his speech Yousef said that Ethiopia faced challenges in the development of its tourism sector, the most significant being the image of the country portrayed in the international media, which is being challenged by the Commission taking part in fares and exhibitions in tourism generating countries such as Japan, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Spain and Sweden among others, where brochures in different languages have been distributed.

Among the other promotional efforts undertaken, the Commission, in association with the Ethiopian Airlines, tour operators and hotels, invited foreign journalists to tour the country so that they might promote the country upon their return to their home country. He also talked about the research and development project, financed with a loan from the World Bank, to develop heritage sites and historical artifacts as tourist attractions, in Harar, Gondar, Axum and Addis Ababa.

Ato Yousef also said while Prime Minister Meles Zenawi regards the tourism industry as ‘a priority for the government’ and is working to encourage local and foreign investors in the development of the sector, the Commission is taking action to ensure the delivery of a standardised quality of service in the industry, by monitoring and evaluating hotels and services and offering advice and guidelines on improvements.

“Efforts being made will enable the country to benefit from the tourism industry,” Yousef said, which in turn “...would play a crucial role in national efforts to reduce poverty.”

World Tourism Day takes place every 27^th September in 145 member countries of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), a date chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the adoption of the WTO Statutes in Mexico in 1970.

This year the ETC, in collaboration with tour operators and travel agents, distributed posters, hats and pamphlets carrying the motto of this year – ‘Travel and Transport from the Imagination of Jules Verne to the Reality of the 21st Century’. Other events that took place include cycle races between Italian and Ethiopian cyclists, a food and beverage competition between selected bars, hotels and restaurants.

Dashen Bank and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a US $10 million loan agreement which will enable the Bank to provide more short and medium term loans to small and medium-size enterprises in the manufacturing, service or agricultural industries. The agreement was signed by Dashen Bank President, Lulseged Teferi and Charge d' Affaires of the US Embassy, Ambassador Vicki Huddleston on 11^th October.

At the signing ceremony Ambassador Huddleston said "public-private partnerships, such as the one we are entering into today, facilitate access to credit and introduce new financing options for smaller borrowers especially women owned firms."

"The U.S. Government is very pleased about this SME guarantee facility we are signing, and we look forward to future collaborations that fuel job creation through access to credit."

President Lulseged reaffirmed the commitment of the bank to the expansion of small and medium industries, “which are the foundation to build large scale industries in the country.”

Ethiopia is planning to build the country’s largest ever multipurpose dam. The Ministry of Water Resources announced the plan on 27^th September, saying that the dam, which is to be located at Kara Dobe on the border between the Amhara and Oromia regional states, is part of a series of dams which are to be built over the next five years.

The construction of the dam comes under the framework of an agreement signed by Ethiopia in 2001 with the Sudan and Egypt, both of whom will bear some of the cost of the construction of the dam, thought to be close to US $800 million. Feasibility studies for the Kara Dobe Dam, 60km west of the Abay Bridge at Dejen, are expected to be completed by mid-2006 by NorConsult, Lamayor of Germany, Water Works Design and Supervising Enterprise, Shebele Consultants and NorPlan of Norway, who have headed up studies for three hydropower dams in Ethiopia since the Nile Basin Initiative was signed. Once the studies have been completed, the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation will take over the actual construction of the dam from the Ministry of Water Resources.

According to experts, Ethiopia is believed to have a potential hydro-electricity generating capacity of 38,000 Megawatts.

A report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows that Foreign Direct Investment (or FDI) into Ethiopia has increased. Speaking at the launch of the 2005 report on Monday 3rd October at the UN Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Augustin Fosu said Ethiopia was among the most promising African countries in terms of FDI, ranking in twelfth position out of all the African nations; first place was taken by South Africa.

The report shows that FDI inflows to Ethiopia increased from US $255 million in 2002, to $465 million in 2003, to $545 million in 2004. Furthermore, while the total FDI inflows around the world have actually decreased since 2002, and in particular flows into developed countries, the total FDI inflows into developing economies have increased, with Africa benefiting from a marked increase from $12,994 million in 2002 to $18,090 million in 2004.

World Investment Reports (WIR) illustrate the latest trends in foreign direct investment and explore the internationalisation of research and development by transnational corporations, along with their development implications.

This year’s report also discusses the recommendations of the Commission for Africa (CFA) which Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, as a Commissioner, helped draw up. According to the 2005 WIR, if new Official Development Assistance inflows were allocated according to the priorities outlined in the CFA report, the investment climate would be improved further still, by providing opportunities for foreign firms to invest productively.

The full World Investment Report is available on the www.unctad.org/ website.

Ethiopia has finalised arrangements to increase the provision of free anti-retroviral drugs to HIV/AIDS patients in a move designed to improve the conditions of the 1.5 million Ethiopians living with the virus. The Ministry of Health announced on 5^th October that clearance has been given to selected hospitals and rural health care centres throughout the country in order for the drugs to be distributed according to clinical eligibility and not on their ability to pay for the treatment. Previously anti-retroviral drugs had to be purchased by sufferers, with approximately 9,000 patients provided with the drugs for free through sixty selected health institutions.

The Ministry also said that it had dropped the requirement for AIDS patients to obtain a certificate stating their inability to pay before they could qualify for the medicines, and that sufferers will now be able to receive the drugs from more than 100 health centres. The programme is supported by the United Nations agency which is helping to fight the pandemic on the African continent, UNAIDS.

● Parts of Ethiopia experienced the spectacular solar eclipse on 4th October. The eclipse started over the North Atlantic at 4:41am EDT and traveled along a narrow band across half the planet, where it was viewed in northern Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. The annular eclipse, which is different to a total eclipse in that the moon is too small to blot out the Sun completely, so leaves a bright, fiery rim.

● According to a new report by the United Nations population fund (UNFPA), Ethiopia’s population now stands at more than 77.4 million and its average annual growth rate at 2.4%. The UNFPA World Population 2005 report also found that the average life expectancy in the East African country is 47.1 years for men and 49 years for women. The report, which was released to coincide with the 60^th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, also includes statistics on a range of health and social issues, as well as access to water, and states that Ethiopia is now the second most populous African country, after Nigeria.

● President Girma has been presented with the credentials of five newly appointed Ambassadors to Ethiopia. Yves Bonjanger of Canada, Gurjit Singh Kuck of India, Alphons Hennekens of the Netherlands, Jhung Byung of South Korea and Dr Staffen Tillander of Sweden were sworn in at separate ceremonies held at the National Palace on 4^th October.

● Nestlé have launched their first Fairtrade coffee. Called Partners Blend and described as a “high quality coffee made from 100% Arabica bean from two of the world’s renowned coffee bean growing countries, El Salvador and Ethiopia”, it will be sold under the Fairtrade label. The multinational announced the launch of the product, which it says will help 3,500 farmers in the aforementioned countries, in early October.

● Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has been given the Crystal Eagle International Leadership Award by an association of African-American businessmen. Tabor 100, a northwest association of African-American businessmen and entrepreneurs, conferred the award on the Prime Minister for his huge contributions to economic and social transformation in Africa. The award was collected on his behalf by an Ethiopian diplomat in New York at a ceremony held in the Washington State Convention and Trade Centre in Seattle on 17^th September 2005.

● The 40th meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) was held in Addis Ababa on 6th October, with resolutions passed by the delegates from 15 African countries in attendance. Ethiopia was represented at the Summit by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin, who took part alongside Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Mbeki and Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Beshir. At the end of the meeting, a communique was issued which reaffirmed the commitment of the AU to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Côte d'Ivoire and underscored the belief that the solution to the crisis can only be resolved through dialogue and consultation.

A sword, which is believed to have been looted by the British expedition against Emperor Tewodros (or Theodore) of Ethiopia in 1868, has been presented to AFROMET, the Association for the Return of Magdala Ethiopian Treasures.

The sword has been in the possession of Bapty & Co Ltd, a company specialising in theatrical props who have made weaponry for the Bond films since Dr No, for as long as anyone can remember.

Mr Tony Watts of Bapty, handed the relic to AFROMET Vice-Chair, Professor Richard Pankhurst, who returned the item to Addis Ababa on 2^nd October.

Mr Watts spoke of his support for the principle of restitution, while Dr Pankhurst said Mr Watts actions followed that of other private individuals, and showed that the era of restitution was in fact dawning.

London QC, Bob Moxon-Browne, last year returned an illustrated religious manuscript that had been in his family since his great-great uncle had acquired it at Magdala. He returned the manuscript in the hope that others would follow suit.

AFROMET has successfully campaigned for the return of numerous looted treasures, most notably the 4th century Axum obelisk that was taken by Mussolini’s troops in 1937, as well as the “Edinburgh” Tabot [altar slab] and other items. For more information about the work of AFROMET, you can visit the www.afromet.org website.

The re-erection of the Axum obelisk may take place by the end of the year, after studies showed that it would not damage nearby tombs. The obelisk, which was flown back to Ethiopia in April - some 68 years after it was looted by Italian fascists as a spoil of war - was due to be put back on its original site in the historic northern city of Axum, until the discovery of a nearby underground necropolis led to the project’s temporary suspension.

According to Ambassador Teshome Toga, who was Minister Culture, Youth and Sport, at the time of the announcement on 19^th September, Ethiopia, the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Italy, which is funding the project, have now agreed that the restoration of the obelisk can go ahead without causing harm to the tombs.

Work on the 78 foot high obelisk is expected to be a major engineering challenge, with the Italian firm Lattanzi, who dismantled the obelisk into three parts in Rome and transported back to Ethiopia, involved in its reconstruction.

A new book by writer Philip Marsden which describes his return to Ethiopia after a twenty year absence, is out in early November. The Chains of Heaven is an account of his journey around Ethiopia, “the remote, fiercely beautiful land whose powerful mythic appeal” that has fascinated Marsden all his life, and “celebrates the ageless rewards of the open road and a people for whom the mythic and the everyday are still inextricably joined.”

“Ethiopia bred in me the conviction that if there is any wider purpose to our life, it is to understand the world, to seek out its diversity, to celebrate its heroes and its wonders - in short, to witness it.”

The book is published by HarperCollins, and will be released in hardback on 7^th November.

More than 25,000 people are expected to take part in the forthcoming Great Ethiopian Run, which is scheduled for 27^th November 2005, which will mark the fourth time that the competition has taken place. According to a briefing given to journalists by competition Director General and athletics hero Haile Gebrselassie, registration for the run opened on 3^rd October. Last year’s event saw more than 20,000 runners take part, and was started by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Haile.

Run Coordinator Richard Nerurkar who was also briefing journalists said the first week of registration would be held at the Addis Ababa Hilton, the Dembel Building and at Tana Supermarket during working hours, with another four registration centres opened from 10^th October at the British Council, Addis Ababa Stadium, the College of Commerce and the Jolly Bar (Arat Killo area). Nerurkar also noted that 5,000 people have already registered, with the Embassy of France, the Nib? International Bank (NIB) and Ethiopian Telecom fielded the highest number of competitors. Those athletes who finish in first place in both the Men’s and Women’s races will receive a 25,000 Birr award.

Derartu Tulu became the first Ethiopian to win the women’s race at the BUPA Great North Run, while Dejene Berhanu came second in the men’s race with a time of 1 hour and 0 minutes and 44 seconds. The race took place on Sunday 18th September in Newcastle.

Derartu was initially part of an early leading group which included fellow Ethiopian athletes Worknesh Kidane and Berhane Adere, but the two-time 10,000 metres Olympic champion consolidated her lead at the eighth mile and went on to finish first with a time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 33 seconds, followed by Worknesh in second place in 1:08.09.

“It has always been my ambition to win this event. I have tried two or three times before but on this occasion I knew I was coming into the race injury-free."

Derartu was also among those Ethiopian athletes who took part in the 14^th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in William Hawrelak Park in Edmonton, Canada on 1^st October. Sadly with temperatures a few degrees from freezing and suffering from a heavy cold, Derartu struggled through that 21 kilometre race. However, she went on to give a brilliant performance at the BUPA Great South Run on 9^th October in Portsmouth, where she finished in first place in the women’s competition and set a new national Ethiopian record of 51 minutes and 27 seconds for the 10 miles. Derartu was not the only one to break the previous national record of 52:55, set three years ago in Washington DC by Teyiba Erkis; compatriot Elfnesh Alemu also smashed the former mark when she finished in second place with a time of 52:18.

“I'm a little disappointed I wasn't a little faster,” said Derartu, “I am pleased to have won another big race in this country.''

Gezahegne Abera, the first man to win both the Olympic and World Marathon titles, took part in the Men’s race at Portsmouth, and finished in 18th place with a time of 50:15. It was, however, his first competitive outing in two years following an Achilles injury at the World Championships in Paris, which had led him to withdraw from the London Marathon in April this year; a race he won in 2003.

Finally, Ethiopian athletics hero Haile Gebrselassie won the ING Amsterdam marathon on 16^th October, setting a new course record and the fastest time of the year.In only his second marathon, Haile clocked a time of two hours, six minutes and twenty seconds, beating the previous course record set by Kenyan Robert Cheboror by three seconds and only 1:25 off the world record set by Kenya’s Paul Tergat two years ago in Berlin. He also beat this year’s previous best of 2:07.02 which was also set by a Kenyan - Felix Limo - on October 9^th in Chicago.

``I'm not happy,'' Haile said after the race. ``In the last five kilometres I couldn't push myself hard enough.''

Tesfaye Tola came third in the Men’s race in 2:09.17, and in the women’s race, Kutre Dulecha came first with a time of 2:30.05. Bizunesh Bekele finished in fifth place with a time of 2:41.40.

Two time Olympic 10,000 metres champion Haile, who has recently celebrated the birth of his fourth child, has been in good form recently, breaking the UK-All comers’ record in the 10 kilometres in Manchester and the 10 miles in the Netherlands in September.●

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