Deputy PM Confers with EU Envoy to Horn of Africa
ADDIS ABABA – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen on Friday discussed with Annette Weber, EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, on a range of regional and current issues in Ethiopia.
During the meeting, Demeke spoke about the humanitarian supply to conflict-affected people in the northern part of the country and other regional matters, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement issued today.
He briefed the EU special representative about the accelerated unfettered humanitarian access created for partners, including the WFP following the declaration of the humanitarian truce.
The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the peacebuilding steps taken by the government, including the formation of the national dialogue commission that aimed to address critical issues in the country.
The Government has also established a ministerial committee of about 100 people from various law enforcement bodies to bring perpetrators of human rights abuses before justice, he told Weber.
Despite all the measures taken to ensure lasting peace, unfettered access to humanitarians, and accountability over human rights abuses, the TPLF has continued beating war drums for another round of conflict, he said.
The EU should compel the TPLF to take accountability for its actions and put restraints on its unhelpful and destructive urge to spark another round of conflict, he added.
According to MoFA’s statement, the EU Special Representative, on her part, appreciated and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to support the confidence-building measures of the government of Ethiopia and the humanitarian truce declared to facilitate unfettered access to partners and aid agencies.
The two sides also discussed critical matters in the Horn of Africa region, including the state of the AU-led trilateral negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
In this regard, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed the commitment of the Government of Ethiopia to find an amicable solution for outstanding issues over the Dam.
