Deputy PM Briefs Diplomats about Current Issues in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen has briefed the Diplomatic Community and Representatives of International Organizations about the current situations in the country.

The briefing Demeke gave along with Minister of Justice, Gedion Timotheos, on Thursday covered a wide range of issues, including national, regional and multilateral matters that addressed the concerns of the international community, said the ministry of foreign affairs.

In this framework, the Deputy PM mentioned the recently declared humanitarian truce and subsequent measures taken to allow unfettered access to humanitarian aid to the Tigray region as manifestations to Ethiopia’s commitment to end the conflict peacefully.

Demke said humanitarian issues should not be bound by preconditions and political interests.

He further called on the international community to expedite support in this regard and put pressure on the TPLF to reciprocate appropriately.

Speaking more on the peace initiatives of the government, he said Ethiopia has continued to be committed to the peace efforts of the African Union Commission Chairperson High Representative, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Regarding the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch’s joint report, he reaffirmed the government’s position to closely examine the matter.

He, however, stressed that the political contents of the report which went beyond the mandates of the organizations is unacceptable.

In the trilateral negotiations of the GERD, Demeke underscored Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to engaging in the AU-led process.

The two officials have also expressed Ethiopia’s reservation over the decision of the UN Human Rights body to conduct another investigation into human rights violations in Tigray disregarding Ethiopia’s willingness to implement the recommendations of the joint UN-EHRC investigation.

The newly proposed investigation also undermines the institutional independence of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission besides wasting time and financial resources through duplications of efforts, they said.