Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh hosted a reception for the Foreign Ministers attending the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union on Thursday (February 7). Warmly welcoming the Foreign Ministers to Addis Ababa, he said they had come to Ethiopia at an exciting time, “with a wave of political, economic, and social reforms underway and making significant progress under the wise leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy.” Dr. Workneh added that there is now a new air of hope and optimism as we have reached a long overdue and peaceful settlement of the long conflict with our neighbor Eritrea. He said: “We believe that realization of regional peace is an engine that pushes forward the economic integration agenda in our continent”. In fact, he said, while there are still tragic incidents and refugee crises taking place in different parts of Africa, there is now a high level of excitement of change evident across the continent: “Despite all challenges, one can confidently say that Africa is indeed rising.” History is being made again, he said, with the fast-paced process of economic integration of Africa, moving beyond the already established social and political solidarity of Pan Africanism.
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Dr. Workneh emphasized that unity was the key to resolve challenges. Fifty-six years ago, he said, the founding fathers of Africa had their own vision of Africa and Africans united as one when they established the Organization of African Unity. The African Union had come a long way since then, with each determined step taking the continent closer to that shared vision. “Honoring our forefathers is a very African tradition”, he said, “I am glad that we will do exactly that during this summit, by paying tribute to one of the founding fathers of the OAU. Together with his colleagues, he was a man who fought and defeated colonialism. That person is none other than Emperor Haile Selassie. He will be remembered for his immense contribution to the formation of the Organization of African Unity. And on Sunday, African leaders will be inaugurating his statue in the grounds of the African Union Headquarters”.
