The Pretoria Peace Agreement most importantly requires practical response: Government

Addis Ababa, February 1, 2024 (FBC) – In a statement the Government Communication Service (GCS) announced that the federal government has attentively looked into the TPLF’s statement that demands that the Pretoria Agreement is respected.

In the statement, the GCS stressed that the federal government firmly believes that the full implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement is main solution to address the problem occurred in the Northern Ethiopia in a sustainable manner.

Beyond the Pretoria Peace Agreement, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has and has been taking practical measures to address the issue, the statement says.

The Government has shown its commitment for peace, political solution and cooperation ahead of the Pretoria Agreement, the Statement underscores.

The decision for the National Defense Forces not to enter Mekelle City was made to give peace a chance, statement disclosed.

It is the federal government which sent, the federal government sent a high delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Peoples Representatives to Tigray region immediately after the Pretoria Peace Agreement, the GCS stated.

Putting aside the role of the federal government as per the Pretoria Agreement, the government has allowed the formation of the Interim Administration of Tigray comprising the TPLF and armed forces in the region. It was aimed to save time till the leaders included in the interim administration introduce one another. And this shows how the federal government is committed to peace for the people of Tigray, the statement indicates.

To supply basic public services to the people in Tigray, the federal government sent leaders of the banking, telecom, road transport, health, education and relief operation sectors to Tigray for discussions with the regional officials on the restoration of services in the region just two weeks after the Pretoria Peace Agreement was signed.

A range of activities have been carried out to restore the learning teaching process in the Tigray region. Human resource development, capacity building and restructuring of the leadership of universities in the region have also been undertaken, the statement says.

Appropriating the budget for the leaders, the federal government has managed to restore basic services in the region, according to the statement.

Through the Education Quality Improvement Program, a budget of 165.8 million birr has been included in the plan and appropriated for the reopening of the Regional Education Bureau. For the implementation of the plan of first and second quarters of the fiscal year, the federal government has dispatched a budget of 517.9 million birr via the Ministry of Finance.

In partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in the education sector, the federal government has provided support of 1.46 billion birr to the Tigray region, and appropriated a budget of 111.08 million birr for implementation of educational activities to be carried out during the 2023/2024 academic year in the region, the Government Communication Service explained.

The federal government has also provided the Tigray government with support of 441.5 million birr for restoration of educational facilities in the region. In addition, the Oromia Regional State and the Addis Ababa City Administration have extended support of 5 million and 109 million birr respectively for the restoration process.

The federal government also extended equipment and materials needed for the rejuvenation of the mining sector in the region. And exhibition showing investment opportunities in the region has also been organized at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa at federal government’s expense.

Apart from the measures taken by the Ministry of Finance to strengthen its branch offices in the region, the government has appropriated a total of 16.7 billion birr budget to the region for the 2023/2024 fiscal year. A total of 5.1 billion birr has been appropriated for universities in the Tigray region, according to the statement.

Through development partners, it has been managed to provide 1.7 birr for the Tigray region in assistance, the statement added.

In addition, following the Pretoria Peace Agreement, 1.7 billion birr has been disbursed through Channel 1 and 565 million birr through the office established under Ministry of Finance for rehabilitation and climate change activities.

The Ethiopian Roads Administration has also sent a total of more than 418.6 million birr for salary and administrative works.

Moreover, 164 various professionals have been deployed to the region to strengthen the capacity of the health sector.

Besides ambulances, drugs and medical supplies worth 2 billion birr have been dispatched to the region. During the 2022/2023 budget year, in partnership with partners, the government has extended 600.2 million birr for the health sector in the Tigray region.

As part of the efforts to reopen industries in the region, 217 factories in the region have been enabled to resume production.

As per the activities carried out to strengthen the agriculture sector in Tigray, 51.3 million birr has been disbursed for purchase of crop seeds, the statement disclosed. During the year 2022/2023, 13.4 million quintal of fertilizer has been distributed to farmers in the region, the statement indicates.

In general, the federal government has appropriated a total of 37 billion birr budget to the Tigray region for the aforementioned activities and other works, the Government Communication Service says, stressing the need to utilize the budget for intended goals.

To rehabilitate IDPs, the federal government has embarked on activities together with concerned stakeholders, the statement says. In some places, actual IDPs have been reinstated to their homes.

According the Pretoria Peace Agreement, combatants who were fighting alongside the TPLF have to be returned to peaceful lives, the statement stressed, highlighting the significance of the Federal Rehabilitation Commission to this end.

Regarding some crimes committed during the conflict, the federal government has taken the necessary measures on its side, and held those responsible accountable. To carry out other activities, the federal government has finalized preparation of a transitional justice policy draft document, the Government Communication Service said, calling the Tigray region to contribute its part like other regions for the realization of the transitional justice.

The Government Communication Service reaffirmed commitment of the federal government to fully implement the Pretoria Peace Agreement for the sake of peace, development, and security for citizens in Tigray region and the entire nation as a whole, calling all stakeholders to provide their full support for the implementation of the agreement.