The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has released a statement outlining its foreign relations activities over the past six months, acknowledging the challenging global and regional landscape while emphasizing positive strides made in several key areas.
Spokesperson Ambassador Nebiyat Getachew detailed the Ministry’s efforts to advance Ethiopia’s national interests through robust diplomatic engagement.
Ambassador Nebiyat explained that the past six months have seen a concerted effort to strengthen ties with neighbouring nations, with Ethiopia playing an active role in regional peace initiatives.
While acknowledging the complexities inherent in maintaining stability in the region, he highlighted the positive recognition Ethiopia has received for its contributions.
This has included collaborative efforts on shared concerns and exploring pathways for continued dialogue to address common challenges.
A significant aspect of the Ministry’s work has focused on nurturing bilateral relationships.
Over 128 high-level visits have been conducted, facilitating constructive dialogue and allowing for the articulation of Ethiopia's long-term interests and current perspectives on various issues. These engagements have provided opportunities to solidify existing friendships, build new alliances, and collaboratively address mutual concerns.
The election of Ethiopia to the United Nations Human Rights Council has been identified as a significant achievement during this period.
Ambassador Nebiyat clarified that this opportunity will allow Ethiopia to actively contribute to the global conversation on human rights and engage in multilateral diplomacy to advance positive outcomes.
The Ministry has also prioritized the welfare of Ethiopian citizens abroad.
A repatriation program facilitated the return of 33,000 citizens, exceeding the initial target of 28,000 individuals facing hardship in various countries. This highlights the dedication to supporting Ethiopians worldwide, he underscored.
Furthermore, the Ministry has focused on strengthening people-to-people connections through cultural and educational initiatives. The provision of free higher education opportunities to 968 students from neighbouring countries underscores Ethiopia's commitment to fostering regional collaboration and development through educational partnerships, according to him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes its commitment to continue working towards promoting Ethiopia’s interests on the global stage while also engaging actively in regional and international cooperation.