House passes four bills

The House of Peoples’ Representatives in its 28th regular session held on May 8, 2008 has approved four draft proclamations.

The House of Peoples’ Representatives has passed the Proclamation to Ratify the Basic Agreement of Cooperation between Ethiopia and the Kingdom of Spain with a majority vote of 336 for, and 5 abstentions as Proclamation No. 580/2008 after it had held discussions on the decision proposal presented by the Chairperson of Foreign, Defense and Security Affairs Standing Committee of the House, the Hon. Ambassador Mohammed Ali.

The House also endorsed the bill to Amend the Water Development Fund Establishment and its Administration with a majority vote of 343 for, as Proclamation No. 581/2008 after it had deliberated on the report and decision proposal submitted by the Chairperson of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Affairs Standing Committee of the House, the Hon. Alemnew Getnet.

Meantime, the House has also confirmed a proclamation to ratify the Loan Agreement signed between Ethiopia and the OPEC of International Development Association with a majority vote of 343 for, as Proclamation No. 582/2008 after it conducted thorough discussions on the decision proposal presented by the representatives of Natural Resource and Environmental Protection, Budget and Finance and Foreign, Defense and Security Affairs Standing Committees.

Similarly, the House has adopted Financing Agreement between Ethiopia and the International Development Association for Ethiopia/ Nile Basin Initiative Power Export Project, Ethiopia- the Sudan Interconnector proclamation with a majority vote of 289 for, 32 against and 20 abstentions as Proclamation No. 583/2008 after it had held discussion in depth on the report and decision proposal presented by the representatives of Natural Resource and Environmental Protection, Budget and Finance and Foreign, Defense and Security Affairs Standing Committees.

On the other hand, the House has directed the proclamation to ratify Mass Media and Freedom of Information mainly to the Legal and Administrative Affairs Standing Committee to be jointly scrutinized with Information and Culture Affairs Standing Committee of the House