President Girma addresses nation on Ethiopian New Year

10 Sept 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian president Girma Woldegiorgis called on the public to register new victories in the political, economic, social and diplomatic spheres during the Ethiopian New Year due to begin tomorrow, 11 September.

In a new year message he conveyed to the nation, the president said the public should exert utmost efforts to achieve the goals of the ongoing development activities during the new year.

Girma said agriculture, industry and urban development activities should be intensified in both rural and urban settings across the nation. The president said the private sector and the educated members of the society need to actively participate in the efforts to speed up development and build democracy.

He also said the government to be established should shoulder the responsibility of intensifying the ongoing development activities and the building up of peace and democracy.

The president said the public should provide the necessary support to the efforts of the government whose power is emanating from the people in a democratic manner.

Girma said the country has built a dependable defence force that could maintain the nation’s peace as well as safeguard against any external attack.

He said the country has also carried out successful diplomatic efforts to maintain its peace. He said the five-point peace proposal forwarded by Ethiopia to peacefully resolve the Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute enabled the country to achieve a victory in the diplomatic arena.

He pointed out that a national council is being set up with a view to coordinating the Ethiopian millennium ceremony which would be marked after two years.

(ENA/ST)