[Pol.ethiopia] News Items

[Political Ethiopia]

March 16, 2005

Security Council extends UNMEE mandate

ADDIS ABABA (ENA) – The United Nations Security
Council Monday decided to extend the mandate of the
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
until 15 September 2005.

In a resolution adopted unanimously, the Council once
again welcomed Ethiopia’s five-point peace proposal,
Ethiopia unequivocally expressed its commitment to
resolve the dispute with Eritrea through peaceful and
only peaceful means.  The proposal called for dialogue
to resolve the border dispute and normalization of
relations.

The Council’s resolution expressed, “…disappointment
about the continuing refusal of Eritrea to engage with
the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ethiopia and
Eritrea, whose good offices represent a concrete
opportunity for both parties to move the peace process
forward.”

The council “reiterates its full support for the
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ethiopia and
Eritrea, Lloyd Ax worthy, in his efforts to facilitate
the implementation of the Algiers Agreements, the
decision of the Boundary Commission and normalization
of diplomatic relations between the two countries
through his good offices, and emphasizes that this
appointment does not constitute an alternative
mechanism.

It also called on both parties to cooperate fully and
expeditiously with UNMEE in the implementation of its
mandate, to ensure the security of immediately and
unconditionally all restrictions on and impediments to
the work and to the full and free movement of UNMEE
and its staff.

 62 project sites selected suitable for floriculture

ADDIS ABABA (ENA) – The Minister of Trade and Industry
has announced that 62 suitable project sites have been
selected in Ethiopia for local and foreign investors
willing to engage in floriculture development.

Girma Birru made the announcement here yesterday
during talks with a floriculture delegation from the
Netherlands.

Girma said the sites selected for floriculture
development are not far from Addis Ababa, have
adequate water reserve and suitable weather.

Girma said the government is committed to provide
support for foreign investors willing to invest in
floriculture development in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Government has attached special
attention to the development of floriculture, Girma
said.  He also said the country should receive
technical assistance from countries like the
Netherlands, that are advanced in the sector.

He told the delegation that foreign companies engaged
in floriculture investment in Ethiopia are exempt from
tax for three years after the commencement of their
projects.

One Dutch company has been conducting preliminary
study to establish a similar project on 300 hectares
near Addis Ababa, he indicated.

The government has made preparations to provide
efficient air cargo services and to supply the
necessary inputs for floriculture investments, he
added.

Manager of Dutch Rose Growers, Mr., Beelen on his part
said the attention the Ethiopian Government has
attached to the development of floriculture has
attracted the attention of Dutch investors in the
field.

During the week-long visit, the delegation toured
floriculture development sites in Holeta, Wonji,
Sululta, Debre Zeit, Koka and other localities.

Over 25.6 mln. Voters registered

ADDIS ABABA (ENA) – The National Electoral Board of
Ethiopia (NEBE) announced that over 25.6 million
voters have been registered to cast their votes in the
state and national elections scheduled for May, except
 the Somali State where voting is scheduled to take
place in August.

Some 1,574 party and independent candidates will
contest for seats in the House of peoples’
Representatives (HPR) and 3,669 candidates for state
councils.

Board Deputy Head Tesfaye Mengesha told ENA yesterday
that 25,605,851 voters have registered, of whom 12
million 340,000 are women.

Tesfaye said that 9,177,520 and 7,270,722 voters have
received their voter IDs in the Oromia and Amhara
states respectively.

Over 5 million people have also received voter IDs in
the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State.

Meanwhile, the number of voters registered in Tigray,
Afar, Benshangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Harari states, Addis
Ababa and Dire Dawa Interim administrations has shown
a marked increase compared with the previous national
elections.

Tesfaye said that 37 political parties have fielded
their candidates to contest for seats in the HPR and
state councils.  Some 423 independent candidates have
also registered to take part in the election.

He said 273 women candidates are running for seats in
the HPR.  Some 55 of them are independent candidates
and the rest party nominated, he added.

Similarly, Tesfaye said that 827 women candidates have
registered to vie for seats in state councils.  Twelve
are independents.

The number of registered voters during the 1992 E.C.
national elections was 20,354,156.

Meanwhile, a joint committee drawn from different
political parties contesting for seats in the HPR and
state councils to create conducive atmosphere in the
upcoming elections has been established recently in
Bahir Dar town, Western Gojjam and Bahir Dar town
election coordinator said.

The coordinator Tilahun Degife said yesterday that the
joint committee was set up by the Amhara National
Democratic Movement (ANDM), Coalition for Unity and
Democracy (CUD) and United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
(UEDF).

He also said that the joint committee consisting of
six members has the responsibility such as resolving
disagreements among the parties so that the election
would be free and fair, organizing campaigning forums,
facilitating the use of media, among others.

Similarly, education on election campaigns has been
provided to contesting candidates in Bahir Dar town
constituency, Tilahun said.

Meanwhile, Head of Women’s Affairs Bureau with the
Tigray State’s government has announced that women
candidates in the State constitute 37 per cent of the
total candidature for seats in the HPR.

Roman Gebre-Selassie told “Abyotawi Democracy”, organ
of the EPRDF, that women has also taken 50 per cent of
the candidature among the contestants for seats in the
states council.

The percentage of women candidacy foe membership in
the House has grown to 37 per cent now, from only 10.5
per cent during the second national elections, she
said.  Women candidate who had contested for seats in
the state council during the second elections was 28
per cent.

Roman has announced activities to raise the percentage
of women candidacy to 50 per cent for seats in the
woreda councils.

In connection with the elections, women forums have
been organized by the bureau and the Tigray Women
Democratic Association, she said.

Activities aimed at boosting women’s political
empowerment by increased participation in electing and
being elected began a year-and-a-half ago in the
state, she indicated.


Italy seeks to maintain scientific cooperation with
Ethiopia

By Yemane Terefe
ADDIS ABABA – Italian Ambassador Guido La Tella said
that his country is strongly interested in the
promotion and progress of geological studies in
Ethiopia.  He also said the Government of Italy
intends to continue supporting high quality scientific
cooperation between the two countries particularly in
the field of earth science.

Speaking at a half-day conference entitled: “Earth
Science for Development” organized by Italian and
Ethiopian universities (AAU and Makalle at the Italian
Cultural Institute yesterday, Ambassador La Tella said
that over  the past 15 years, the Italian Development
Cooperation has given extensive support to scientific
research in Ethiopian academic institutions.

According to the Ambassador Italy’s support to the
development of earth science sector comes in various
forms such as training of professors and other staff
through the promotion of high level research. 
Accordingly, various dedicated Italian professors have
worked in Ethiopia greatly contributing to the
expansion of the sector.

Prof. Paolo Billi form Ferrara University, research
finding here shown that once gully erosion starts, it
cannot be reversed.  He indicated that gully erosion
could be stopped only if human beings energy supply
greatly increases.

The researches have been conducted in Axum, Akobo,
Dessie Hayk, Awash and Zeway rivers since the last two
years.

Asked about the objective of the research, the Prof.
responded that it was aimed at understanding the
relationship between environmental change and human
impact to properly address the problem.

Dr. Tamiru Alemayehu, AAU Department of Earth Science,
on his part said that there is no continuity of fund
and research by Ethiopians and Italians.

Dr. Tamiru and other scholars suggested the provision
of sustainable fund for strengthening joint research
activities.

Geology students from Italian higher institutes and
professionals from the AAU were in attendance at the
conference.


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Pol.ethiopia
March 17,2004
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