Performance of HPR said fruitful, encouraging

( July 5, 2007, ENA) - Speaker of the House of peoples’ Representatives (HPR), Ambassador Teshome Toga said the performance of the HPR this year was fruitful and encouraging. Ambassador Teshome also said the HPR has gained important lessons and experiences during its second year of the third tenure. The ambassador made the statement on Thursday while presenting the HPR’s performance of the current budget year (to end July 7)at the 41st regular meeting of the house. Ethiopian parliamentary delegations took part in the meetings of the Pan African Parliament, African Caribbean, Pacific parliamentary Union, and Joint assembly of the World Parliamentary Union during the current year. According to the speaker, the Ethiopian parliament has established parliamentary friendship with 18 countries worldwide in a bid to strengthening parliamentary democracy in Ethiopia.

Urban dev’t, good governance package implementation joint appraisal held

( July 5, 2007, ENA) - Implementation of the national urban and industrial development as well as good governance packages during this ending budget year has put a strong foundation and created suitable conditions for relevant tasks to be performed next, a joint meeting apprised. Officials and experts in the field drawn from the Ministry of Works and Urban Development, municipal administrations and other stakeholders met in a three-day performance evaluation annual forum beginning Monday. The Urban and Industrial package has been designed with a view to alleviating socio-economic problems by engaging the unemployed in micro businesses and providing the low- and middle-income people with housing facilities. During the course of the appraisal, the Ministry and all pertinent offices of regional states including the DireDawa and Addis Ababa administrations have presented their performance reports related to integrated housing development and micro- and small-scale business and good governance.

Amhara reports better performance in justice delivery

(July 5, 2007, ENA) - The Amhara State Supreme Court said the public are beginning to receive swift justice services made possible through the justice system reform program which is paying off in raising the capacity of courts. He said courts are bringing lawsuits to verdicts in shorter period of time than has been the case so far. Over 99 percent of the cases brought to court during the current year have received verdicts while judges and other pertinent judiciary bodies are working hard, even on their days-off to finish off case pile-ups. The official attributed the improvement in service provision also to the computerized system of client handling and file management as well as to the introduction of roving courts reaching out to localities.

Ethiopia to take part in Houston International Festival in USA

(July 6, 2007, ENA) - President Girma on Friday held discussion with President of the Houston International Festival, Dr James W. Austin here in Addis Ababa at the National Palace. President Girma on the occasion said the festival, due to take place in 2008, is a noble opportunity for Ethiopia to promote its culture and values to the international community.
Girma said the Ethiopian government has begun the necessary preparation for the festival. Dr. Austin on his part said the festival displays a wide variety of dance, theatre and visual arts from around the world, as well as international foods for the thousands of patrons who attend the annual event. Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Mahamoud Dirir on his part said since Ethiopia is taking part in the festival for the first time, it would be an important venue to promote the potentials and realities of Ethiopia. The minister said the festival would have immense contribution in boosting investment and tourist flow to Ethiopia. The Houston International Festival, which lasts over the course of two weekends, is expected to be visited by not less than 300,000 people.

3rd National Housing, Population Census covers largest area ever: Agency

(July 6, 2007, ENA) - The 3rd National Housing and Population Censes, which was held in May 2007, covered almost all localities of Ethiopia unlike the previous censuses, the Central Statistics Agency said. Agency director general, Samiya Zekeria said no locality was left uncovered during the recent national population and housing census. She said the data collected through the census would be analyzed and interpreted through a new scanning technology. Activities are well in progress to launch the preliminary report of the census in April 2008 after undertaking similar census in Afar and Somali States, she said, adding the census in the stated regions would be held between 28 Nov. 2007 and 10 Dec. 2007. An ‘information development team’ under the auspice of the World Bank has categorized Ethiopia as one of the African countries with better statistical system owing to the on-going reforms of the Agency, she said. According to the director general, the team selected Ethiopia as one of the six model African countries for rapid information development schemes.

MoFED to celebrate 100th anniversary, Ethiopian new millennium

(July 6, 2007, ENA) - The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) said it launched preparations to mark its 100th anniversary and the Ethiopian new millennium festival together. Employees and management members of the ministry planted tree seedlings under the "Two Trees for 2000" project of the millennium. Speaking at the tree seedling-transplanting event, MoFED Public Relations and Information Department Head, Getachew Admasu said the ministry is undertaking preparations to celebrate its 100th anniversary and the millennium festival with various programs.