Ethiopia doing its level best to attain MDGs
Oct 24, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian government is doing its level best to achieve the goals set in the Millennium Declaration, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The 60th anniversary of the United Nations was celebrated on the premises of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) here in Addis Ababa.
Speaking at the celebration of the United Nations Day, Acting General Director of International Organizations’ Economic Cooperation with the Ministry, Mihrete’ab Mulugeta said Ethiopia has embarked upon an aggressive program to accelerate progress as rapidly as possible.
Mihrete’ab said the government has put a big push on education to creating a strong human capacity, expanding infrastructure, strengthening institutions and building new ones, and decentralizing governance.
Since 2001, between 40-60 percent of all government revenues have been transferred to the local level, together with full responsibility for managing social services and increasing share of capital investment, he said.
As Ethiopia has the hope to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it believes that the United Nations system, through its various funds and programs, should play its part in filling the gaps witnessed in various aspects.
Ethiopia has been engaging in numerous activities of the UN, especially in peace keeping operations, Mihrete’ab said, adding that the Government is ever committed for enhanced cooperation with the UN, including cooperation in the area of UN Peace Keeping Operations.
In a message he sent in connection with the United Nations Day, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan recalled last month’s world leaders summit in New York and said leaders of both the rich and poor countries committed themselves to detailed policies which, if fully implemented, could reduce hunger and poverty by 50 percent in the next ten years.
According to the Secretary General, the leaders had also promised to fight terrorism in all its forms, and to take collective action, when needed, to save populations from genocide and other heinous crimes.
Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General to UNMEE, Ambassador Azouz Ennifar also said achieving the MDGs require the ingenuity, solidarity, and creativity of peacekeepers in mission areas.
A panel discussion that raised the challenges and hopes of the MDGs was held in connection with the United Nations 60th anniversary celebration.
The Police band played UN Anthem and raised the Organization’s flag.
(ENA/ST)