The Inaugural Speech Delivered by his Excellency President Girma W/Ghiorgis to the 3rd Tenure of the 3rd Parliament of the FDRE
(Full Text)
Honourable Members of the Houses of Peoples’ Representatives and the Federation,
Distinguished Guests and
Esteemed Compatriots,

Allow me to express, on my own behalf and that of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, my heartfelt joy over the successful launch of this joint session of the two Houses. We, as a nation, have just celebrated the end of the Second Millennium and ushered in the Third in a spirit of hope and optimism, a deep sense of change, for the better, and the spirit of Ethiopia’s Renaissance.

Our nation, as we all know, after a long downward spiral has entered a new rapid development track. Economic structures, once largely subsistence-based, are being transformed into market-led systems and a modern free-market economy. The agricultural sector has now become market-oriented and has joined the global market. Integrated activities by government, the private sector and the public are now addressing basic developmental needs, signaling a bright future for urban centers. Never has our country had such a modern infrastructural network in its long history.

As a result of the efforts to enroll all school-age children, we now have a student population of over 15 million. Our capacity in controlling outbreaks of diseases has improved significantly following the expansion of health services and the preventive approach to public health. Current trends indicate continued increase in access to health facilities. Significant advances have also been made in the struggle to ensure peace, democracy and good governance. Legal and institutional foundations have been laid for the furtherance of democratization and good governance in the country. Continuous efforts are being made to instill the principles and to deepen the understanding, of the Constitution among all public and government bodies. Activities in rural and urban centers, in line with government polices and strategies, are expanding and solving challenges in the process. It is expected that the government, with its great commitment, will further entrench democracy and good governance in the future.

It goes without saying that maintaining reliable peace is a prime pre-requisite for our development and the democratic system we want to nurture.

There have been minor impediments, but despite this fact, we have been able to move forward without any major challenge, thanks to the patient, tolerant, principled and wise leadership of the government in dealing with disruptive attempts. Political approaches have been given precedence, as far as possible, to resolve any domestic issue that has threatened peace and due to this we have left behind the problems encountered in connection with the 2005 elections. We stand united with renewed hope, optimism and vigor, thus creating a fertile ground to encourage the realization of the Ethiopian Renaissance in the New Millennium. We have been able to engage in development and democratization simply because we have been successful in defusing conditions that may have destabilized peace in the Horn of Africa.

Honourable Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the Federation,
Distinguished Guests and
Esteemed Compatriots,

All parties have to play their proper roles, if the ongoing development, sustainable peace and democratization are to be crowned with victory. The House of Peoples’ Representatives which symbolized the people’s sovereignty is a prominent institution that fosters efforts to realize a democratic order and must, therefore, undertake activities that enhance development and democratization. In this regard, the House as part of its duty must develop legal frameworks to promote foreign relations as well as deepen democracy, peace and development. As has been the case before, this honorable House is expected to issue bills aimed at achieving the goals of the on-going Ethiopian Renaissance and to promote the cause of nation building.

As our cardinal objective is to overcome poverty and make it a thing of the past, the nation has registered an impressively high growth rate over the last four years, following the implementation of polices and strategies designed to speed up economic development that benefits our people at all levels.

Our goal, therefore, is to sustain a growth rate of not less than ten percent, while at the same time controlling inflation and ensuring that all citizens stand to benefit from the ongoing development. Youth and women will definitely benefit from the efforts to create employment and reduce their burdens as affirmative action is applied in their case. There is no doubt that crating a stable macro-economic environment is a daunting task as we face growing global inflation and rising oil prices. Nevertheless, we do have high hopes of creating better conditions than last year, though we need to watch the situation with careful attention.

New and amended bills, carefully drafted to support our stated economic goals, will be brought before the honorable House for consideration.

Accordingly, various decrees to advance agricultural growth will be presented to the House. Among those will be amended laws on Fertilizer Production and Trade, revised bills on Plant Seeds, Bio-safety, as well as Animal Disease Prevention and Control. Revised bills on Meat Hygiene, Animal Quarantine and Transport, and Development and Protection of honey production will be presented and ratified by the House. Other proposed laws will focus on the development and utilization of water resources, to help raise agricultural productivity and the expansion of related services. Regulations necessary for the enforcement of these bills will also be issued by the Council of Ministers. Enforcement of these bills will certainly help raise productivity and greatly improve the quality of agricultural products, building upon the gains already made through the implementation of our policies and strategies.

Expansion of trade and investment is believed to be crucial to further encourage rapid economic growth. Government, in the drive to provide consumers with goods and inputs to improve the quality of their lives, has strongly supported the creation of a conducive environment for the promotion of trade and investment. In the course of the year, we will be engaged in shoring up trade and investment. Equally, the government will engage in monitoring illicit activities, to allow a level playing field for development project that operate within the bounds of the law. The House will also be considering a revised law on investment, and a law providing for National Quality Standards, Trade License Registration, Technical Control Systems, Mines, Energy and Petroleum as well as the establishment of a national meteorological body and a number of other proclamations. Ratification of bills will significantly enhance and encourage the involvement of the private sector, notably in the industrial field and in urban development. This will allow entrepreneurs to realize personal gains while at the same time benefiting the country and their compatriots.

Creating a stable macro-economic environment is a pre-requisite for producing a high economic growth rate. Indeed, the achievement of the last few years has contributed much to our rapid economic development. And in macro economic stabilization, the financial system has a major role to pay. An enhanced tax system will boots the capacity of government to generate more revenue and pave the way for the provision of increasingly improved government services to all sectors of societies including the private one. Equally, it will help ensure transparency which is pivotal to democratization and development. Several bills will be approved by the House to reinforce the country’s financial and tax systems. Amended bills on the National Bank, insurance, micro credit, customs, revenue, value added tax, excise, postal and turnover taxes will also be presented for ratification.

As we have clearly stated in government policy documents, the democratic system must allow and support the prevalence of god governance. In this connection, unstinting efforts have been applied to promote good governance in rural as well as urban areas. There is no denying that significant result have been achieved, in this regard, though these have yet to reach the desired levels and standards.

Encouraged by these achievements the government has prepared plans to further improve good governance. Draft laws to assists in implementing these plans will be adopted by the House. Some of the major bills which will be presented to the esteemed House of Peoples’ Representatives include a Proclamation on Corruption and Whistleblowers, the Protection of Witnesses, a Job and Physical Security bill, a Penal Code Procedure draft law as well as an Administrative Affairs draft law. The Press Law, which we believe, will strengthen the constitutional right of freedom of expression, a draft law on Non Governmental Organizations’ (NGO) activities, and a draft bill on Financial support to Political Parties are expected to be presented to the House for endorsement.

It is believed that our country needs to have lasting peace both internally and within our region in order to enhance the development and democratization process. In order to guarantee the prevalence of peace, the government, in accordance with its responsibilities, will exert maximum effort to ensure compliance with the Constitution and all laws of the land, and strengthen the growing culture of tolerance, dialogue and compromise. It will undertake a host of activities to encourage people to use their constitutional rights, to resolve their differences peacefully, and work together for the realization of our national objectives.

Taking this into account, various draft laws aimed at improving the standards and operations of security-enforcing institutions will be presented to the esteemed House of Peoples’ Representatives. Among these, will be proclamations aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Federal Police force, and the prevention of gun running and illegal trafficking in arms.

While ensuring lasting peace in the country, the government will also work relentlessly to enhance positive relations with neighboring countries based on the principles of peace and good neighborliness. A few months ago, the supremacy of extremists in Somalia had not only led that country into chaos but also adversely affected all its neighbors, especially Ethiopia. Peace loving forces in the Horn of Africa were, inevitably, highly concerned by a situation exacerbated by the Eritrean government’s interference and its efforts to destabilize the region. Somalia becomes the victim of elements some of which originated internally, but others who traveled thousands of kilometers to cause violence and mayhem. The Transitional Federal Government, strongly opposed to these forces, extended an invitation to Ethiopia to help. We were able to break the backbone of the extremist forces, thereby creating conditions for a bright future and the rebirth of Somalia which it deserves. We have thus, decisively removed the major threat that extremists posed to our country. Moreover, we have contributed our share to bring Somalia clans together to resolve their differences in accordance with the principles of peace, compromise and tolerance. As we have reiterated time and again, our stay in Somalia will depend on our government’s decision, the wishes of the TFG and the arrival of a replacement African Union Peace Keeping Force, AMISOM, in Somalia. It is therefore imperative that we create a sufficient atmosphere for the TFG of Somalia to stand on its own as soon as possible. At the same time we must relentlessly continue with our diplomatic efforts to effect a condition where the AU peacekeeping force takes over the mission as soon as possible.

Our government has persistently expressed its unwavering desire to engage in a relationship with Eritrea based on the principles of peace and non-interference, such as the sort of relationship we have with all other neighbors. However, the incumbent government in Eritrea does not appear to be ready for peace and good neighborliness. Due to this fact, we have been unable to achieve our goal. Indeed, the government of Eritrea is continuing to work day and night to destabilize our country. It is, indeed, engaged in training and deploying disgruntled terrorist forces.

Instead of focusing on improving its own worsening domestic situation, the Eritrean government is continuing its agenda of interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, such as the Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia. Moreover, it has consistently expressed its intention to instigate war with Ethiopia. Indeed, it is the overwhelming capacity of our armed forces that has deterred the Eritrean government from trying to destroy the peace that we enjoy in our country, today.

Once again, our government solemnly requests Eritrea, as it has done before, to turn to the path of peace as war benefits no one. We have repeatedly extended invitations to round-table discussions as we want to resolve our differences peacefully. The Eritrean government has not only continued to turn down any such invitation, but has also continually, and forcefully, conscripted and trained thousands of youngsters in Eritrea. As a result we have been forced to make preparations to defend ourselves from any aggression. We have also undertaken activities to pre-empt the extremist forces which do the bidding of the Eritrean regime.

Our government is aware that the proclamations mentioned above will pay a pivotal role in strengthening our economic and political standing which would in turn help in the sustainability of peace in our country. Equally, the government will, in addition, present to the House a number of other bills specifically aimed at enhancing the capacity of our security and especially our defense forces.

We are confident that these major proclamations will be adopted by the esteemed House. In the social sector, draft proclamations focusing on ensuring quality and expansion of education, the safeguarding and ensuring of special rights for persons with disability as well as treaties and conventions that our country may enter with various countries and institutions, will be presented to the House of adoption. I hope that discussions and debates on these draft proclamations by the various parties in the House will be based on the principles of transparency, and that they will contribute to the awareness of the Public. It is my conviction that the adoption of these proclamations takes into consideration the wishes of the people and will provide them with major benefits.

Honorable Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation
Distinguished Guests and
Esteemed Compatriots,

The responsibility of the House of Federation is to interpret the Constitution, in accordance with the realities in the country. It will continue to expand and expedite various constitutional duties which it has begun to undertake. It will carry on with its work to raise constitutional awareness among all our citizens. It will engage in activities to consolidate the democratic unity now being created, among our country’s nations, nationalities and peoples and the ties between them. One of these activities will be the hosting of the Annual Nationalities Festival, first held last year which proved to be a great success. The House is expected to undertake activities that will lead to the formation of various fora where people can consolidate the spirit of unity. The House needs to carry on with the constitutional responsibility of supporting the efforts of our people in building unity based on equality as well as combating tendencies that might compromise, threaten or endanger our democratic unity.

Another responsibility of the House of Federation, according to the Constitution, is designing the formula for federal government subsidies to the regions. We have already established our own commendable experience, but we have also looked at other countries’ practices which have federal systems, like us. Taking all this into account, the House will consider whether the subsidies for the regions are in accordance with the formula. The House will draw on the experiences of others to provide inputs for future activities. Similarly, the House is expected to study the formula for sharing revenues between the Federal and Regional Governments. In this regard, the House will collect and analyze experiences from others. These are some of the major activities which the House of Federation is expected to undertake according to its constitutional powers, responsibilities and mandate.

Honourable Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation
Distinguished Guests and
Esteemed Compatriots,

In the celebration to end the second millennium, all our people have expressed their burning desire to do away with poverty and backwardness and their wish to achieve prosperity and the democratic order. The desire and wish of all Ethiopians is to ensure that poverty exists only in the archives of our history. They do expect a lot from the government, but they have also themselves shown readiness to shoulder their own share and responsibilities. I wish to seize this opportunity to urge all our peoples to work together to contribute, the utmost, to achieve our vision of accelerated development and to ensure the prevalence of the democratic order and good governance.

Finally, on behalf of the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and on my own behalf, may I, once again, extend to all members of the two esteemed Houses my very best wishes for a successful first year of the New Millennium.

I thank you!