PM Abiy Ahmed says harmony, peace key to prosperous Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, November 14, 2023 (FBC) – Addressing the 3rd year 4th regular session of the House of Peoples Representatives, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) urged Ethiopians to embrace peace, harmony and forgiveness calling this a key to realize a prosperous Ethiopia.
Prosperity Party is working hard to build an inclusive democracy taking into the diverse identities of nations and nationalities of the country, the Prime Minister pledging to realize a prosperous country where every citizen lives with equality and freedom.
The Prosperity party has offered training to close to 2000 leaders representing 65 nations and nationalities of Ethiopia and this denotes how the ruling party is committed to building a prosperous multinational state, the Premier pointed out.
He called on the public to avoid negative narratives which he said are hindering nation’s development endeavors. The prevailing narratives are focused on the political history of the country, the Premier said, stressing the need to cultivate a narration that embraces the diverse cultural and social aspects of the nation.
“Ethiopia does not only have a political history. This seems to occupy us the most. We also have a rich social history as well and focusing extremely on our political history will put us out of balance,” the Premier underscored.
“There are groups that see our development endeavors from a point of view that is against the real purpose of the activities. There are people who see the construction of GERD as project that will harm other countries. This hinders the efforts to seek solution to our problems and have a common stand on national interests,” the Premier said.
“Ethiopia has experienced conflicts and wars for many years. What we need the most is peace. So, we have to give dialogue a chance,” the Premier stressed.
He called for quality and productive ideas to be promoted. And ideas must be supported by hard work and persistence to ensure development, peace and good governance with an inclusive manner.
The concept of nationalism in the Ethiopian constitution is not against multi nationalism, the Prime Minister said, stressing the need to harmonize differences to promote inclusive democracy, development and good governance.
He called on opposition groups to seek peaceful solutions rather than armed struggles, affirming that the government is open for dialogue to solve ongoing problems through peaceful mechanism.
Members of contending political parties are currently serving as cabinet members participating in major policy related discussions and decisions, the Prime Minister said, pledging commitment to promote the inclusive approach to the future.
Regarding the recently declared state of emergency, the Prime Minister said the decree is aimed at restoring law and order and has enabled the federal government to bring relative peace in the Amahra region and prevented the regional government from a breakdown.
The general public demands that poverty is eradicated and democracy flourished in the country, the Prime Minister said, reaffirming government’s commitment to a prosperous nation.
Regarding contested areas in the Amhara and Tigray regions, the Prime Minister underscored that the government has put in place a mechanism to solve the situation with referendum.
The federal government works to ensure lasting peace between the peoples Amhara and Tigray region based on referendum, he said. Saying that this is not the only alternative, the Premier called on elites of the two regions to bring their peaceful solution to address the situation.
Regarding the conflicts in Amahra and Oromia regional states, we are working to ensure peace in the country.