Addis Ababa, January 14, 2022 (FBC) – The Council of Ministers, during its 16th ordinary session has passed resolution on various issues.
The Council of Ministers first deliberated on the 107,174,255 USD loan agreement with the International Development Association (IDA) for the Sustainable Land Management Project II.
Cognizant of the significance of the loan in supporting the government’s efforts to build a green economy and improving livelihoods of farmers by increasing land productivity, the Council approved the agreement unanimously and referred it to the House of Peoples Representatives for approval.
The Council also discussed the draft bill to revise the excise tax proclamation which is effective as of 2020 and passed respective resolution which it has forwarded to the house for further scrutiny and endorsement.
Council further deliberated on draft proclamations to establish the Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank, Ethiopian Public Health Institute and Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority and approved the bills unanimously; therefore, the establishing proclamations will take effect once they are published on the Federal Negarit Gazeta.
Finally, the council discussed the bilateral agreements Ethiopia has signed with governments of the Republic of Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates on extradition of wanted criminals and mutual legal cooperation in criminal issues. It is stated during the session that the extradition agreements create a legal framework for bilateral cooperation ensure rule of law in the countries.
The legal cooperation on criminal matters include organized and cross-border crimes, investigations, prosecutions and trials of crimes in the territories of the two countries, to exchange information and evidence, and to prevent the transfer of the proceeds of crime.
After a detailed discussion on the proposed bilateral agreements, the council unanimously passed resolution and forwarded it to the house for approval.
The agreement is said crucial in exchanging information and evidences related to investigations, prosecutions and trials of crimes of organized and cross-border crimes in territories of the two countries and preventing transfer of proceeds of crimes from one country to the other.