Capital

EEPCo receives CSC building

By Groum Abate

Ghadafi brings in cars, gold as present for leaders

By Tedla Yeneakal

‘Bashir doesn’t deserve AU presidency,’ Coalition

By Andualem Sisay

City dismantling billboards

By Tedla Yeneakal

Council approve sales registry

By Groum Abate

Beer highs

By Tedla Yeneakal

FIRA short of target by 9%

By Tedla Yeneakal

AU Ministerial meeting to herald AU summit

By Andualem Sisay

Dialog critical: First US Ambassador to AU

By Andualem Sisay

Council’s robust global PR blitz

By Andualem Sisay

Shebele officially inaugurated

By Groum Abate

The 1.47 bln dollar tourist city

By Groum Abate

Indus Investment signed an agreement on Thursday, January 25,2007 with the Oromia Investment office to construct a 1.47 billion dollar "Tourist City" in Oromia.

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India celebrates

City secure 34 mln br in 2nd round lease auction

By Groum Abate

Council announces millennium projects

By Andualem Sisay

SCS provides 5.6 mln birr to partners

By Andualem Sisay

Parliament looks to pass revised Cotonou agreement

By Eskinder Michael

Meles announces phased pull-out Commends unreserved support from African nations

By Groum Abate

New round of violence in Somali capital

EEPCo awards 1 billion birr in projects

By Eskinder Michael

EEPCo receives CSC building

By Groum Abate

The Ethiopian Civil Service College (ECSC) has given back its training centre at the Kotebe area to former owners, the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo), after 12 years.
EEPCo has had its old facility returned to it after deciding to reopen a training college for undergraduate mechanical engineering students.
EEPCo built the institute 18 years ago to offer short-term in-service training for freshly recruited employees that graduated from colleges in electrical fields.
In 1995, the government passed a decision to use the Institute to train personnel in the civil service areas. The new ECSC has been housed in the building since then.
The Corporation’s plan to increase electrical coverage of the country from 15pc to 50pc in five years is facing obstacles because of the lack of skilled manpower. As a result, EEPCo had repeatedly appealed to the government to have the institute returned to it in order to curb this problem.
In due course, the Corporation’s appeal received acceptance from the state, and ECSC has been instructed to return the facility to the electric supplier. ECSC has been constructing buildings on the huge plot that houses the facility in order to ameliorate a shortage of classrooms.
The Corporation, according to a document presented to the parliament, is currently refurbishing the buildings to resume teaching activities.
The centre is planning to begin graduate programs in electro mechanics and utility management. The feasibility study for the project is being conducted by the Addis Abeba University (AAU) faculties of Technology, Business and Economics.
A member of EEPCo’s management, who asked to remain anonymous, told Capital that when the Corporation employed fresh graduates from colleges and universities in the country, it always encountered problems as they had a lack of practical knowledge.
“It is currently an unquestionable necessity to open a college as there is a severe lack of a competitive and skilled labour force. With out it, the wide range of activities that EEPCo is involved in being successful is put into doubt ,” said the member of management.
The Corporation is currently engaged in programs from the Universal Electric Access Program to Hydroelectric Power Projects, Urban Distribution Rehabilitation and Modern Load Dispatch Centre to Regional Power Interconnection Program Project.
When EEPCo’s institute was open, it was able to train close to 500 students annually.
EEPCo is the second utility supplier to begin a graduate school, preceded by the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation.
The Ethiopian Civil Service College (ECSC) was established in 1995 to cater for the training needs of the Ethiopian Civil Service system and to carry out research and consultancy. ECSC is currently in the process of re-orienting its training programs to respond to the changing needs of the Ethiopian Civil Service System and the Civil Service Reform program through short-term, selected under- and post-graduate training programs.
The Council of Ministers established the Ethiopian Civil Service College as an autonomous higher education institution to create conditions under which civil servants serve the people in an appropriate and effective way.
The college offers studies in Economics, Accounting, Law and Town Planning.
The recurrent budget obtained amounts to an average of 9.5 million birr per year which means 4,500 birr per student per year.
The College Board is the highest policy making body. It determines the academic and administrative policies, the organization and Charter of the College. The Board is accountable to the Ministry of Capacity Building.

Ghadafi brings in cars, gold as present for leaders

By Tedla Yeneakal

Libyan leader Muamar Ghadafi has brought in 15 cars and two bags full of gold as a gift for African heads of states who are expected to participate in the 8th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, scheduled to open tomorrow, Monday, January 29th.
Reliable sources disclosed to Capital that Ghadafi’s 15 cars have already arrived at Bole International Airport and have been issued permits to enter the country; however, the two bags of gold are kept in a room at the airport awaiting consent from Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The Assembly of the Union is expected to discuss and pass several decisions on the crisis in Somalia and Darfur, Sudan, in addition to conferring on other important issues, such as climate change in Africa.
Ghadafi is expected to lead a large delegation that will stay at the Sheraton Addis. We have not received any confirmation as to whether the Libyan leader has been given the green light from the Ethiopian Prime Minister to bring in the gold until we went to print.
Sources from Bole International Airport disclosed that the two bags of gold have been seized to check on the legality of bringing gold into the country.
Ghadafi is noted for engaging in very controversial ventures; Britain and the United States restored diplomatic relations with Libya in 1999 after a 15- year hiatus and have been involved in negotiations to end the country’s international isolation.
The United States, which retained its 17-year embargo, has Libya on its list of nations that sponsor terrorism. The U.N. Security Council ended sanctions against Libya after Ghadafi’s government took responsibility for the Pan Am bombing and agreed to pay 2.7 billion USD to the victims’ families.
In relation to Ethiopia, Ghadafi has been pushing for many years to have the headquarters of the African Union shifted from Addis Ababa to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

‘Bashir doesn’t deserve AU presidency,’ Coalition

By Andualem Sisay

At a press conference in Addis Ababa Friday evening, a coalition of non-governmental organizations from across the continent presented a signed petition urging African leaders to consider the dire situation of millions of war affected civilians in Darfur.
African Heads of State will meet tomorrow here in Addis Ababa as part of the 8th African Union summit.
The petition in particular highlighted the fact that the AU was faced with an organisational decision in the coming week which would critically impact the possibility of peace in Darfur. “A decision on the AU Presidency in Addis must not comprise the neutrality and independence of the AU's operation in Darfur,” says, Mr Alioune Tine, the Secretary General of the Senegalese Organisation Rencontre Africiane Des Droits de I' Homme.
“African opinion will never accept a choice of Mr Bashir as President of the African Union. Such a move will discredit the institution and diminish the image of the African Union as an independent arbitrator in the eyes of the world,” Mr Tine says.
He urged African States not to elect Sudan as the President of the 53 member regional organisation. It would, he said, create a dangerous conflict of interest. He also pointed out that the inter-state character of the Darfur conflict -with Chad, the Central African Republic and Sudan all alleging mutual aggression -made the independent mediation role of the AU at this time even more critical: “Sudan cannot be the judge of conflicts in which it is involved” he said.
Earlier this weekend, in letters sent to African Heads of State, the Darfur Consortium, a coalition of over 40 African and Africa-focused NGOs, expressed “deep concern with respect to plans agreed last year by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Khartoum, Sudan, to confer the AU Presidency for 2007 -2008 on the Government of Sudan”. Such a decision, the group stated, had the potential to “seriously undermine the AU's credibility and compromise the authority of its institutions”.
Introducing the petition, which carries the signatures of over five hundred representatives and delegates of non-governmental organizations attending the World Social Forum in Nairobi earlier this week, Achieng Akena, a spokesperson for the Darfur Consortium, described the “deep concern” felt by African and international civil society about the ongoing crisis in Darfur.
The petition urges the African Union to compel the Government of Sudan to comply with its obligations to protect its population through: halting the military scale up in Darfur and disarming the janjaweed militias responsible for a large part of the violence; urgently agreeing and implementing a timetable of deployment of a hybrid protection force to Darfur by the United Nations and the African Union; ensuring adequate access to Darfur by humanitarian personnel and the media; and reopening meaningful political negotiations with all parties, including the non- signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement.
Mr Awosokoanre, of the Centre for Research Education and Development of Rights in Africa (CREDO-Africa), a member of the Consortium and one of those who led the Nairobi events, pointed out that the situation for civilians in Darfur had massively deteriorated in recent months. "All indications are that Darfur is on the brink of an even greater disaster than we have witnessed to date”.
It was essential, he said, that African States made renewed efforts to protect the people of Darfur. “The fate of millions of Africans hangs in the balance.”
The petition also calls upon African leaders to facilitate the deployment of peacekeepers to Chad where over a half a million displaced are desperately in need of security. It also suggests that African states need to send more African troops to Darfur. In addition, the coalition also urged AU to give attention to the situation in Guinea, Conakry before the situation turns in to a Darfur or Somalia type conflict.

City dismantling billboards

By Tedla Yeneakal

Subsequent to the Addis Ababa City Administration’s Infrastructure and Construction Authority revised draft regulation for outdoor advertising and urban signage, the authority has recently started to dismantle billboards.
It is to be recalled that the draft ruling on mounting outdoor advertising like billboards and posters in a systematic and professional manner, and measures of putting down the ads, came about in order to beautify the city with a uniform advertisement structure for the new millennium.
According to observers, the administration has taken the step in ratifying new rules and regulations in this premature phase of billboard advertising in the country, with a view of improving the current haphazard installation of billboards everywhere in and around the city.
At the moment, there are hardly any transition-formal implementation processes and as a result, dispersing graphic billboards at every junction and square. It was last June that the draft ruling was put out, suggesting an alternative to a structured advertisement setup.
Critics however, sight the lack of stress and emphasis given against advertising of alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and the like. “The advertisers and advertising agencies have to be cautious and selective about the sites where the ads would be mounted,” said an advertiser anonymously.

Council approve sales registry

By Groum Abate

The Council of Ministers during its 29th regular meeting on Friday deliberated and passed decisions on three agenda items.
First on the agenda was a draft guideline providing for a sales registry to be filled out as a must do procedure by taxpayers.
The bill is believed to help curb the problem of receipt counterfeiting, which has been one of the ways of evading tax payment.
The cabinet official added that the bill emanated from the need to create genuine business competition by compelling taxpayers to use a uniform sales registry.
The sales registry form would force all businesses that are not audited or that pay taxes by estimation to register their daily sales on the form the tax collector shall distribute.
Usually these businesses would pay their taxes to the Addis Ababa Administration.
The city used to collect taxes from business that run audited accounts.
These business have an annual turnover of less than 100,000 birr and account for over 60% of registered businesses.
The council, after having made amendments, passed the bill to be published in the Negarit Gazette.
The Council also deliberated on a bill regulation providing for amendment of an earlier motion providing for the establishment of the Tendaho Sugar Factory.
This bill provides for an increase in the amount of the factory's paid up capital as well as for guarantees of the rights and privileges of the employees of Tendaho Plantation S.C, who are to be embraced by the factory.

Beer highs

By Tedla Yeneakal

The price of beer has considerably increased; after the dominant beer producer BGI Ethiopia raised its prices. According to officials of the company the measure was taken after the price of raw materials for the manufacture of beer rose considerably.
Accordingly, draft beer from BGI of 30 liters, increased from the previous 121.60 birr to 135 birr, whereas bottled beers of brands. St. George and Bati cost 60 birr a crate, up from the previous 53 birr. A crate of the Castle brand now costs 74 birr, increasing from the earlier amount of 66 birr.
Surafel Alene, Sales Manager of BGI Ethiopia, told Capital that a substantial increase in raw materials for beer production forced the company to increase the market price of beer.
“We have seen an increase of raw materials up to 30%,” Surafel said. “Price of diesel and other increases in inputs forced us to increase the price.”
In some regions of the country, Harar and Bedele beers have also raised prices but Meta and Dashen have not yet made any adjustments to prices.
“Of course it would affect our revenue for a while but we are certain that it will adjust in the future,” the sales manager said.
BGI Ethiopia’s brands include Bati, Saint George and the export standard Castel.
Since its acquisition, BGI has refurbished the old Saint George plant in Addis Ababa, and is now undertaking a huge expansion project, investing USD 25 million to turn the existing draft beer plant into a bottle plant as well. This project, expected to be completed in three months time, is said to boost BGI’s beer production to 750,000 Hectoliters from the present 650,000, ensuring BGI is the leading beer producer in the country, according to company sources.
There are five breweries in the country, namely Meta Abo, Harrar, Bedele, BGI Ethiopia and Dashen.

FIRA short of target by 9%

By Tedla Yeneakal

The Federal Inland Revenue Authority (FIRA) has collected 3.12 billion birr from tax and non-tax revenue in the past six months, slightly falling off its target by 9%.
Abebe Kebede, Public Relations head with FIRA told Capital that the authority had originally targeted to generate 3.43 billion birr.
Accordingly, FIRA collected 1.693 billion birr from direct taxes, 1.426 billion birr from non- tax revenues and the remaining 1.95 million birr from non-tax incomes, including penalties, interest and other incomes.
“For the authority, any target over the 90% mark is a good record, however, we have collected an amount which is slightly less than our record because of some dues tax collections which are due in January and others which have also failed to pay their taxes as they have declared bankruptcy,” Abebe said. “We have certainly increased the quality of our service and the tax based education that has been embarked on by FIRA has helped the authority.”
The authority, during the same period last year, collected 2.49 billion birr, which when compared to this year’s revenue is up by 629 million birr or 25 %.
FIRA is managed under the Ministry of Revenue, which was established by proclamation no 256/1994 articles 4, 5 16 and 26 issued on Oct. 10, 2002. In accordance with the proclamation the aims, powers and duties bestowed on the former Revenue Board by proclamation No 5/1987 are fully transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. In addition, the ministry is given the responsibility of conducting the Revenue sector reform program continuously. Furthermore, the Ministry leads and supervises three affiliated revenue sectors, namely: the Federal Inland Revenue /FIRA/, the Ethiopian Customs Authority /ECA/ and the National Lottery Administration /NLA/.

AU Ministerial meeting to herald AU summit

By Andualem Sisay

An African Union (AU) ministerial meeting will precede the 8th AU Head of African States summit scheduled to be held on January 29-30, 2007.
The Heads of State summit will discuss on how to promote science and technology in Africa. Weak linkage between the scientific community and the political institutions and a decline in the quality of science and engineering education in most African countries are mentioned as some of the major challenges of the continent by Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at the opening ceremony of the ministerial meeting Thursday.
The summit that aims at integrating Africa, and which on the newly appointed United Nations (UN) Secretary Gerneal Ban Ki-moon will be present, will also discuss on administrative, financial, legal, institutional, political, economic, social and cultural matters.
Also during the summit that will be opened tomorrow, a new AU chairperson will be elected to succeed the current chair, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo. The summit will also discuss climate change and launch 2007 as the International Year of African Football.
Ban Ki-moon is expected to raise the issues of Darfur and Somalia. The new secretary general, along with other UN officials, will hold a meeting with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
Al-Bashir has recently accepted a deal to deploy a joint AU-UN force to replace AU peacekeeping forces in Darfur. During his two day visit to Ethiopia, Ban Ki-moon is also expected to hold discussions with PM Meles Zenawi, in what will be their first meeting since the election of the South Korean diplomat to the UN’s top job.

Dialog critical: First US Ambassador to AU

By Andualem Sisay

Newly appointed US Ambassador to the AU, Dr. Cindy L. Courville, stressed the need for all-inclusive political dialog among Somalis.
“The US will continue to press for a politically inclusive dialog among the parties in Somalia, one that includes the parties on the ground, the diaspora, all stakeholders,” she said. “We are of the position that the AU has to take a lead for a politically inclusive dialog.”
On what she called “an informal engagement dialog with the media”- referring to her press briefing at the US embassy in Addis Ababa on January 25, 2007, she also expressed United States support to the African Union’s deployment of troops and to all who are engaged in humanitarian activities in Somalia.
Quoting President Bush, she added; “The greatest instrument to fight terrorism is democratization,” The Ambassadress also indicated United States’ support for Africa’s path towards democratization and the need to fight terrorism together.
Ambassador Courville was the Director for East African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where she was responsible for the coordination of US military and security policy with East Africa and the Horn of Africa. She has also served as Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council from June 2001 through August 2003.
Prior to her appointment, she served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council.

Council’s robust global PR blitz

By Andualem Sisay

The Secretariat of the Ethiopian Millennium Council announced at a meeting with journalists from both the state and private media this week, that is has completed the leg work that would enable it to robustly promote Ethiopia on international cable and satellite networks.
Speaking at a familiarization meeting, the Ethiopian Millennium Festival Secretariat held with journalists at the Addis Ababa City Administration conference hall on Tuesday Mulugeta Asrate, Head of Communications, explained the reasons for taking “a giant step forward in the nation's PR campaign to promote Ethiopia in general and our Millennium in particular.”
"The blow back of failing to give priority attention to Ethiopian PR work abroad has floored Ethiopia's image with a sumo-sized 'grime', so much so that the very word Ethiopia will soon become short-hand for famine and poverty. The Secretariat will, therefore, "be accused of dereliction of duty if it were not to seize the ‘feel good’ factor that the Millennium brings with it,” Mulugeta says. “We, at the Secretariat, have therefore, been working on ways and means of giving the image of our country a much overdue face-lift by engaging on a robust PR campaign. To this end, the Secretariat has completed preliminary negotiations with CNN, the world’s news leader, which is designed to create a powerful brand association that would be delivered to a select CNN audience.”
Emphasizing on the need to go global in its PR campaign, he further stated that international public opinion has been kept in sustenance- as far as Ethiopia is concerned- on a diet of naked misinformation and information that placed heavy emphasis on Ethiopia's undesirable aspects. “We are determined to reverse this trend.”
According to Mulugeta, the anticipated partnership of the Secretariat with CNN will portray an Ethiopia where culturally diverse people have come together as one to form a fascinating nation, an Ethiopia that has been in existence since the beginning of time and with breathtaking scenery that changes constantly as one travels through different regions. “And an Ethiopia of not only a country of old and rich culture, but it is the people of Ethiopia who truly complete the character of this intriguing land, with their deep rooted hospitality and welcoming smiles.”
When asked on the number of airings and costs, Mulugeta refrained from giving details saying: “these will be made public once we have secured sponsors. The main thing is that not even a cent will have to come from the tax-payer.”

The foundation stone was laid for the construction of twin hotels with an outlay of over 22 million dollars.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Ambassador Mahmoud Dirir, who laid the cornerstone, said the hotels would contribute to the growth of tourism in the city.
He said the construction of the hotels, which he liked to as two ladies, will bolster the flow of tourists, in addition to creating jobs.
The twin hotels to be built by Kuwaiti company Mohammed Al Kharafi & Sons the French based Accor Africa and Middle East companies and would rest on over 10,000 square meters of land located strategically on Meskel Square.
They are expected to be finalized in 30 months, it was learnt.
One of the hotels, Ibis, will be a three star hotel having a 12-storey building that comprises 154 bed rooms while Novotel will be a six-storey four star hotel with 119 rooms.

Shebele officially inaugurated

By Groum Abate

The Ethiopian Shipping Lines S.C. unveiled Shebele, its new cargo ship, in the presence of senior government officials and the business community at Djibouti Port on January 23, 2007.
The ship, built at a cost of over 23.5 million dollars, has the capacity to carry 25,000 tons and was built by Kouan Shipbuilding Industry, a Chinese company.
The cargo ship would help increase Ethiopia’s international shipping of trade items besides enhancing the company’s competence and market share.
The company ordered two new ships respectively named 'Shebele' and 'Ghibe' with a view to providing lofty cargo freight services for construction, heavy industries and other development sectors in the country.
Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, Shemsedin Ahmed on the occasion said the Ethiopian Shipping Lines has been contributing its part in facilitating the country's import and export trade.
Ambassador Shemsedin said the endurance of the company in today's competitive market is worth appreciation.
At present, the company owns 10 ships with a combined capacity of 147,672 tons.
According to the company, 'Ghibe' is expected to reach the Port of Djibouti after two months.
Juneydi Saddo, Minister of Transport and Communication was present at the inaugural unveiling of Shebele, among other prominent businesspersons and senior government officials.

The 1.47 bln dollar tourist city

By Groum Abate

Indus Investment signed an agreement on Thursday, January 25,2007 with the Oromia Investment office to construct a 1.47 billion dollar "Tourist City" in Oromia.
Chief of the Oromia Regional State, Abadula Gemeda and Indus Investment's chief executive officer, Ahmed Hilal Al Falahi, signed the agreement, set to boost development and to employ about 12,000 people.
According to the agreement, the tourist city, the first of its kind in the country, would be constructed on 38,197 hectares of land in the Abiyata- Shalla area.
The city would have an airport, a school, a business centre and hotels, among other facilities.
Various incentives have been provided to Indus Investment.
The country is receiving positive worldwide attention as it hosts the Africa Union Heads of State Summit and related events in the capital, Addis Ababa from this week until 30 January.

India celebrates

India celebrated Republic Day with fanfare on January 26, 2007 with a grand ceremony at the premises of the Embassy of India. H.E Ambassador Gurjit Singh welcomed more than 300 members of the Indian community and read to them the address of the president of the nation.
Among the dignitaries present at the reception later on in the day were senior Ethiopian government officials, AU representatives, UN/ECA agencies and the diplomatic corps. The occasion was graced by His Holiness Abun Paulos, Patriarch of the E.O.C, (Ethiopian Orthodox Church) who is to embark on a visit to India on January 20,2007
Capital congratulates the people and government of India, H.E Ambassador Gurjit Singh and the Indian community in Ethiopia on the celebration of Republic Day- the founding of the world’s largest democracy.

City secure 34 mln br in 2nd round lease auction

By Groum Abate

The Addis Ababa Caretaker Administration announced the lease results of the 87 plots it put up for public bidding in five sub- cities of the capital.
The Administration has secured over 34 million birr from the second round bid.
In its 2nd round of land lease tender, the city has offered mostly residential plots. One plot in Yeka sub-city and another in Akaki/Kaliti sub-city have been slated for multi-purpose buildings. Another plot measuring 1780 sq. mt. is also floated for tender by Kolfe Keranio sub-city for kindergarten construction.
Arada sub-city has also offered two plots located in front of Churchill road opposite Universal Clinic. These two plots are offered with the highest floor price of 1,313.21 birr for the first plot of 1,000 sq. mt. The second plot, which is 1,100 sq. mt. is set at a floor price of 1,195.76 birr per square meter.
The lowest floor price was offered in Yeka sub-city commonly known as Dehininet. All the 16 plots offered in the sub-city have a floor price of 150.30 birr.
Arada Sub City, Bole Sub City, Kolfe Keranio Sub City, Yeka Sub City, and Akaki/Kaliti Sub City are the five sub cities where land is leased on bid in this round.
The administration requires a specific amount of money to be deposited in a blocked account, verified by a bank and submitted with the bidding document. The amount is also attached along with the floor price of the area at the auction announcement posted in the city’s newspaper Addis Lisan on its December 16th issue.
This scheme is introduced so as to exclude those who participate in the tender without the necessary financial backup.
25,000 birr is required for bidding for a 200 square meter segment and one million birr for a 1,000 square meter plot.
Recently, following the Addis Ababa Caretakers Administration first round auction announcement for bidders interested in leasing land, a plot around Merkato, commonly known as Berbere Tera, fetched 10,000 birr per square meter, which was the highest ever submitted for a plot in the city.
A residential plot located around Ayat area has also fetched a maximum of 3,125 birr per square meter, which is almost double than the last auction that took place a year ago.
A plot in Yeka sub-city commonly known as Dehninet has also demanded the staggering price of 2,051 birr per square meter. Plots in this area have been auctioned with a maximum price of 400 birr per square meter in the last auction.
The administration had prepared 167 plots located in different sub-cities of the city in the first round of auction.

Council announces millennium projects

By Andualem Sisay

Based on the two categories of motivating the public towards celebrating the millennium colorfully and contributing toward the sustainable development of the country, the National Council of the new Ethiopian Millennium Festival approved 35 projects.
Our Millennium, a ten-hour long concert on the eve of the new millennium, September 11, which will be screened in the major cities of the country, is one of the projects that has won final approval. Millennium Sport, African Cultural Week, Millennium Bazaar, Millennium Generation, Constitution Day, International Conference, Students’ Day, and Disabled Day are also among the projects aimed at motivating the public to actively celebrate the millennium.
Building a coffee museum in Kaffa Oromia region, the birth place of coffee, is one the projects that the council believes will contribute to Ethiopia’s sustainable development. Millennium Monument, Two Trees for 2000, Millennium Park, Millennium Education Fund, Widow Ethiopia, Youth, Entrepreneurship, Millennium Foundation, mini museums at airports and the Sheraton Addis and two documentaries movies are also got the green light.
At regional level, 126 projects have been approved. The council is planning to cover the cost of these projects from sponsors and in collaboration with business organizations by branding its logo, according to Bahiru Genete, Deputy Director General and Project Management Head at the Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Council.
The council was formed two years ago by the Council of Ministers with the general aim of motivating and laying the ground for a bright future and forming a sense of nationalism that will move forward Ethiopia and Ethiopians in all aspects to the new Ethiopian millennium. Ethiopia applies the Julian calendar that is seven years behind the Gregorian.

SCS provides 5.6 mln birr to partners

By Andualem Sisay

Save the Children Sweden (SCS), Ethiopia has signed agreements to provide 5.6 mln birr for the year 2007 to its twenty four partners on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at the Ghion hotel.
The agreements were signed by Mr Hans Ridemark, Regional Director of Save the Children Sweden Eastern and Central Africa and the representatives of partner organizations on behalf of their respective organizations. The agreements include memorandum of understandings with three youth organizations.
The main theme of all the agreements signed was in line with SCS’ 2007 plan of action which is to work for protecting and promoting children’s rights in Ethiopia, focusing on: children’s right to education, the fight against violence committed on children, the strengthening of the capacity of adults working with children, good governance for the best interests of the child, building strong child rights organizations and combating and preventing HIV/AIDS.
In his speech to the gathering, ”It is our strong belief that children, more than half of this country’s population, do need strong and committed adults to protect and promote their rights. It is our even stronger belief that programs get better the more the children and young people themselves are involved. For that reason, I am especially glad to be able to have memorandums of understanding signed today with 3 youth led organizations,” said Mr Hans Lind, Country Director of Save the Children Sweden, Ethiopia Office.
During the event, SCS’s 2007 plan of action along with the total budget allocated for this year was presented by Mr Hans Lind.
Twenty four partners from government and non government organizations attended the ceremony. Furthermore, stressing the importance of children’s participation in matters concerning them, over forty children from partner organizations were in attendance. Two special guests from Sweden, on a visit to Ethiopia as part of their school project of supporting one of Save the Children Sweden’s partners – CDI, Robin Eliasson and Marcus Pousette also attended the signing ceremony.
Dr Bulti Gutema, Head, Mothers and Children Affairs department at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Tilahun Tefera, Head, NGO and Civil Affairs Bureau of Addis Ababa City Administration and Kefle Yeshitila, Director of Ethics and Public Relations Department at the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission were also among the invited guests at the event.
Since 1965, SCS has been operating in Ethiopia to secure the rights of children.
SCS was established in Sweden in 1919. Save the Children’s work focuses on promoting and protecting children’s rights and on tackling issues that affect marginalized children.

Parliament looks to pass revised Cotonou agreement

By Eskinder Michael

Though it is stated that the revised Contonou agreement would take effect if all parliaments of the member countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries – European Union (ACP-EU) have ratified it by December of 2006, Ethiopia, has only now referred the document for study by the standing committees of parliament.
The ACP was established on June 6, 1975 following an agreement in Georgetown-Guyana. The understanding among signatory countries was reiterated when further agreements were signed in Lome, Togo. According to the first Lome agreement, the EU will provide free aid to ACP member countries apart from the low interest loans that the European Investment Bank also provides.
The new Cotonou agreement that is in effect now focuses on political dialogue and has five main pillars. The agreement will be valid for 20 years.
Since 1975, and according to the agreements signed at Lome I, II, III and IV, Ethiopia has benefited highly from EU aid with the European Development Fund providing 1.9 billion Euros, out of which Ethiopia was able to use just 1.3 billion Euro until the end of 2001.
According to the Cotonou agreement in effect from 2002 – 2007, about 538 million Euro has been set aside for Ethiopia, but until May 2006, Ethiopia was only able to utilise 89.36 million Euro.
The five pillars that make up the Cotonou agreement are strengthening political dialogue, civil service associations, and relationships between private sector and non-governmental stakeholders, poverty reduction and to formulate policies according to the WTO.
The Cotonou agreement has five year components and a new agreement will be signed at each year end. When the current five years end in 2007, a new agreement will see about 13.5 billion Euros being set aside for ACP member countries, in terms of finance protocol.
The new agreement is set to last from 2008-2013 and the EU has decided to provide 1.5 billion Euros from the European Investment Bank in loans, alongside the 24.39 billion Euros that it has slated for all ACP countries.
Out of this large sum, Ethiopia is to receive 535 million Euro in terms of non-loan support.
The House of People’s Representatives however, last Tuesday, passed late a resolution that would allow the concerned standing committees to study the document.
Though when the committees have concluded with the documents, the parliament is set to approve the document, other member countries have passed the resolution and so it has been in effect as of last December 2006.
At least two-thirds of the parliaments of the ACP-EU member countries have passed the revised Cotonou agreement, one of the results being the formation of an International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

Meles announces phased pull-out Commends unreserved support from African nations

By Groum Abate

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced that the Ethiopian defense forces that crushed the extremist group in Somalia in collaboration with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), would be leaving the country in three phases.
He said the Ethiopian Defense Forces would fully withdraw from Somalia in the coming weeks as they have completed their mission and the activities of the war lords which was feared would aggravate the situation, has taken a peaceful course.
The Premier expects the deployment of African Union peacekeeping forces to Somalia before the end of the third phase withdrawal of Ethiopian forces.
In a press conference he gave to local and international journalists on Wednesday, Meles stated the Ethiopian forces that crushed extremists threatening Ethiopia’s security, began withdrawing from Somalia as of Tuesday (23 January 2007).
Meles said the victory of the Ethiopian Defense Forces over the extremist group in Somalia without civilian casualties showed the military capability and heroism of the defense forces.
The Prime Minister added that the withdrawal from Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia would be successfully completed in the coming few weeks.
Ethiopia began withdrawing its troops as the forces of the TFG began stabilizing the country, according to Meles.
Meles said warlords and their militias have become part of the army of the TFG peacefully, after handing over their armaments.
The TFG, in collaboration with the people of Somalia, has already shouldered the responsibility of ensuring peace and stability in Somalia, he said.
Meles recalled that the defense force took the move with a clear mission of reversing the aggression, adding that it has also been clearly stated that it will withdraw as soon as the mission is concluded.
Though the defense force completed its mission earlier, it stayed in Somalia to lend assistance to the transitional government in accordance with its request, the prime minister said.
As the warlords, who were prime sources of threats for peace in that country, have laid down their arms and agreed to merge their militias with the army of the transitional government, the anticipated risk of instability has vanished.
He also pointed out that there are no relations between the withdrawal of the Ethiopian defense force and the deployment of the peacekeeping force envisaged to be deployed by the African Union (AU) in Somalia.
The initiative taken by several African countries to contribute to the peacekeeping force is encouraging, the premier said, adding that he is optimistic the peacekeeping force will arrive in Somalia prior to the complete withdrawal of the Ethiopian army.
The transitional government will have several tasks to bring about peace and ensure stability in that country, he said, adding that the defense force would extend full support to the endeavors.
The counter offensive taken by the country to reverse the war declared by the extremists has not put any stress on the development works underway in the country, Meles noted. The country's annual economic growth is expected to be over 10 percent, he added.
Prime Minister Meles further stated that Ethiopia does not support the decision passed by the Security Council to cut the number of UNMEE forces.
The Security Council should have penalized the government of Eritrea for its repeated incursion into the temporary security zone hampering the operations of UNMEE rather than reducing the peacekeeping force, he stressed.
In an interview he held with the Arabic Al-Arabiyah TV about the message Ethiopia sent to Arab leaders through its foreign ministry, Meles says: "The message we wanted to convey to our Arab brothers consisted of two points. The first was that we wanted them to understand that it was not a crusade war against Islam."
He adds: "We wanted to tell our Arab brothers that we are after a group of terrorists. The Islamic Courts do not represent Islam. The second point we wanted to convey to them was that we do not at all object to the independence and sovereignty of Somalia and our intervention will only be for a short and limited period of time. We will withdraw as soon as we accomplish our mission." He then said the Arab leaders understood the reasons "which prompted Ethiopia to intervene" and "we were very happy with the results".
In related development Meles Zenawi stated that all African nations have supported Ethiopia’s action in Somalia.
After talks with Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika on Friday, Prime Minister Meles told journalists that Ethiopia has received the unreserved support of African nations for the measures it has taken against the extremist and terrorist forces in Somalia as well as for its diplomatic actions.
Meles said all African countries expressed that they recognize Ethiopia’s intervention in Somalia was a proper measure and one without option, in addition to expressing that the victory gained was not only Ethiopia, but also an African victory.
Prime Minister Meles’ talks with President Mutharika focused on the bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Malawi, on conflict situations in Africa, particularly the case of Somalia.
Meles said he briefed President Mutharika about the measures Ethiopia has taken in Somalia, to which Malawi expressed its full support.
Asked what the upcoming 8th ordinary session of AU Assembly would pass by way of a resolution, Prime Minister Meles expressed anticipation that the resolution should provide for ways of swift deployment of an AU peacekeeping force to Somalia, and the finalization of the necessary preparations.
Malawi is one of three countries that have already promised to contribute troops for the AU peacekeeping force.

New round of violence in Somali capital

A mortar attack and shootings are the latest violence to hit the Somali capital, which is struggling to regain stability after Ethiopian-backed government forces ousted Islamists who controlled the capital for much of last year.
Witnesses in Mogadishu reported at least two people were shot dead during the night, and the capital remained tense Friday.
Ali Musa, a reporter with the French news agency, said that mortars were fired overnight in Mogadishu.
"Three to four rounds of mortar have been landing at Madina vicinity, which is a poor neighborhood," he said. "The mortars were not heavy ones, according to experts. One hit a mosque and the other one hit an abandoned school, and the third one was just coming into the neighborhood. It has wounded a girl, who is about 15 years old."
The Somali capital has been plagued by sporadic violence since government forces backed by Ethiopian troops drove out radical Islamic militias last month.
Musa says the Islamic Courts Union's strict rules helped quell violence in the city, where the internationally backed government is now struggling to gain control.
"There is a declining security situation in Mogadishu," he added. "The Islamic Courts had imposed some strict laws and institutions in the Somali capital, and had been making the streets safer than before."
Ethiopian forces have been supporting Somali government troops in first chasing away fighters of the Islamic Courts Union, and then attempting to bring stability to the capital.
Observers fear that the retreat of the Islamists from the capital and other key posts throughout the south, and the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops will create a security vacuum and a possible return to the warlordism that plagued the country since civil war broke out in 1991.
The Somali government, the African Union and the United States are among those pushing for an African peacekeeping force to be sent into Somalia, with the African Union approving a plan to send 8,000 troops into the volatile country.
Uganda and Malawi have officially offered to supply troops, with South Africa, Libya, Tanzania, Angola, and Congo among those countries said to be considering sending personnel.
Somalia's transitional government was formed in Kenya more than two years ago following a peace process.
(Compiled from various agencies)

EEPCo awards 1 billion birr in projects

By Eskinder Michael

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) last week signed agreements totaling one billion birr with 16 local electrical construction companies.
EEPCo General Manager Miheret Debebe signed the contracts that would see 19 various projects which enable close to 400 rural towns to get electricity.
The project is part of the Rural Electrification Project, and will allow local companies to manufacture and install concrete electric poles made to last for up to 50 years
Winning such a huge deal for the first time, local companies will also be responsible for installing electric power lines in 183 rural towns. EEPCo plans to electrify 857 rural towns before the end of this year. Each construction company has been allotted to install electric power lines for 20 towns.
Local companies had recently been complaining that the government does not allow them to participate in large projects, which and according to Miheret, would build the capacity of local firms. EEPCo is to subsidize 80 per cent of the budget allocated for the projects.
According to the general manager, about 53 billion birr has been set aside over five years for the nationwide power supply enhancement master plan sector. Nearly 10 billion birr is required for this year’s project phase. The master plan is to extend for 25 years.
The Ethiopian government has set its sights on increasing the 15% national electricity coverage to 50% and rural electrification has become the priority of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation EEPCo.
Ethiopian electrical construction companies, in a bid to build their capacity, had made contact with German companies to start joint ventures on such projects. The companies are determined to take part in the many infrastructure projects planned by the Ethiopian government.
“We are a very young sector and as such, our capacity in terms of competence and technology hasn’t improved much. This venture will definitely help us in many ways, the main factor being the transfer of technology,” said Ato Daniel Mebratu, President of the EEPCA and owner of Dan Technocraft.