Veteran diplomats shed light on Ethiopia’s diplomatic achievements 

Addis Ababa, January 12, 2024 (FBC) – A panel discussion focusing on Ethiopia’s diplomacy took place today at the Science Museum in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, senior Government officials, Ethiopian Ambassadors and diplomats, the diplomatic community, and distinguished guests.

Ethiopia’s successful diplomacy should be persevered through successive generations, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen remarked at the opening of a panel discussion today.

Ambassador Taye Atsikeselasse, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, moderated the panel discussion. Honorable Ambassador Dina Mufti, member of the House of People’s Representatives, Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis, Professor Emeritus Bahiru Zewde from Addis Ababa University, and Dr. Abdeta Diribsa were the discussants.

Professor Bahru gave an account of the salient features of Ethiopia’s diplomatic relations through the ages, focusing mainly on commercial relations, the ties with Europe, the quest for modernization, the quest for access to the sea, institutionalization of foreign relations, multilateralism, and Pan-Africanism, among others.

Emphasizing the continuity of Ethiopia’s foreign policy, Honorable Ambassador Dina elaborated on the major diplomatic achievements of the country during and after the cold war.

Ambassador Konjit, from her first-hand experience, explicated Ethiopia’s commitment to the principle of collective security in its membership to the League of Nations and the United Nations, its firm support to the decolonization and liberation struggles, and the role Ethiopia played in the formation of the Organization of African Unity.

Dr. Abdeta also presented his critical views on Ethiopia’s foreign policy vis-a-vis the key indicators of foreign policy achievements and challenges including the internal and external contexts, the foreign policy decision making processes, public opinion, global power rivalry, among others.

The discussion got its conclusion with participants of the panel reflecting their views on the matter.