President Calls For Dialogue To Resolve Differences As Nation Celebrates 14th NNPD

Addis Ababa, December 9, 2019 (FBC) –Organized by the Oromia regional state, celebration of the 14th Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day (NNPD) is taking place at the Addis Ababa stadium.

Senior government officials, including President Sahle Work Zewde, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Speaker of the House of Federation Keria Ibrahim are attending the annual celebration.

The celebration marks the day on which the rights and equality of the Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples were fully guaranteed under the constitution.

Thousands of Addis Ababa dwellers also joined representatives of nations, nationalities and peoples drawn from across the country in celebrating the day.

In her remarks, President Sahle Work stressed the need to use dialogue as a tool to resolve differences.

“Let’s resolve our differences through dialogue. If not, let’s agree to disagree on point of disagreement,” she said.

“Taking into account that we are all in the same boat, we should work together, the President noted.

The President further said the celebration would help exhibit the culture and lifestyle as well as strengthen the unity of the Ethiopian people.

Speaker of the House of Federation (HoF), Keria Ibrahim for her part said the celebration would help cement the unity existed within diversity.

She said diversity could be a source of strength if it is handled democratically and properly.

In his congratulatory message, Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed yesterday said the NNPD signifies unity in diversity of Ethiopians how beautiful, priceless and respected multinational cultures and identities they have.

The day also demonstrates Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples are intertwined and inherited one another with blood, culture, values and norms for years, ENA quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Ethiopians have struggled and paid scarification for equality, freedom, justice and self administration to develop their culture and languages, PM Dr Abiy said.

The constitution has assured the long awaited struggle for self-determination of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, he noted.

Currently, the genuine federal system of Ethiopia creates conducive play ground and inclusiveness for all regional states in the political system of the country, he affirmed.

The Dire Dawa city administration will host next year’s Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day.