By: Tsehaye Debalkew, Washington DC, December 10, 2011
The 6th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day of Ethiopia/Constitution Day/ was colorfully marked at the auditorium of the Chancery of the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to-day.
The celebration was attended by hundreds of Diaspora Ethiopians, Community Representatives and families. Ambassador Girma Birru, Ambassador Extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the FDRE to the US reminisced the significance of the occasion which marked the endorsement of the constitution that guaranteed and protected the rights of the various nations, and nationalities by declaring their equality and fair and just representation in the political milieu, as enshrined in the noble document.
Ambassador Girma further elucidated the importance of the Nations, Nationalities/ Constitution Day/ as a land mark event, which enabled the creation of an auspicious climate for the realization of the sovereignty and ultimate power of the people who were accorded due recognition for the first time in the countrys polity which spawned for millennia on end.
The Ethiopian Ambassador to the US in his remark enumerated the salient features that define the true character of the Ethiopian Constitution by amply referring to the democratic process undertaken in writing the document and the ways and means of its final ratification as telling elements of its democratic nature.
The Ambassador also cited the enabling conducive environment that has created the continued unity among the different nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia who for the first time in their history have enjoyed the right for a fair play, equal representation and are accorded constitutionally based legal recognition.
Ethiopia which has registered an impressive economic growth sustainably was only able to do so as a result of the enabling condition that has sprouted emanating from the constitution.
In this relation he referenced quite amply the 4% economic growth during the era of the monarchy and a mere average growth of slightly over 1% in the entire reign of the military junta.
On the realm of political rights, Ambassador Girma noted that gone are the days when disgruntled elements and groups had to resort to unlawful acts or violence in quest of remedy for their demands, by reiterating that the present Ethiopian Constitution is embedded with avenues of legal and peaceful address and resolution of any thorny issues.
In his closing statement Ambassador Girma made a clarion call on the Diaspora Ethiopians to positively engage themselves in the overall Growth and Transformation leap that Ethiopians of all walks of life have anchored themselves on, by lending their cherished knowledge, expertise, networking and revenue capacities in a manner that boosts the national drive forward and also calibrating themselves to be active beneficiaries from the enterprise.
He also underlined that they should make good of the propitious environment they currently find themselves in, by making all effort at positively building the image of the nation.
Ambassador Mulie Tarekegn , Deputy Head of Mission at the Ethiopian Embassy and Chief of Diaspora Affairs on his part made a power-point presentation pertaining to the Draft Diaspora Policy. The main points in the new Draft policy were highlighted during the briefing session.
According to the briefings offered by Ambassador Mulie, the New Diaspora Policy is imbued with propitious conditions that enhance Diaspora participation in a meaningful manner by providing solid opportunities in investment, trade, education, health services and other areas of interest.
In the course of the briefing, the Deputy Head of Mission said that the Policy is enriched with instruments that facilitate pertinent and conducive environment that encourages members of the Diaspora communities to directly partake in all levels of decision making through mechanisms that enhance their participation.
Councils to be established by the Diaspora will enable them to put their imprint on decisions that impact their participation and interest, he added. Special focus of the Policy he stated, were the steps taken to bring the knowledge, experience, skill and financial resources of the Diaspora to the country in an organized fashion that could entail dual benefits to the nation and at the same time empower the Diaspora communities.
In the course of the briefing session members of the Diaspora communities raised pertinent questions that enriched the discourse and were given appropriate responses from the podium. At last before the congregation sang the Ethiopian national Anthem in unison, community members of the Ethiopian Diaspora on their part made a solemn gesture to contribute their share to the nation-wide momentum that has ushered in to nip poverty in the bud.
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