Social and Culture
Ethiopia Designated as an Approved Destination Status

Ethiopia and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Implementation Plan for Organized Group Travel by Chinese citizens to Ethiopia on June 25, 2004. The MOU was signed by H.E. Dr. Addis Alem Balema, Ambassador of Ethiopia to China and by H.E. Mr. He Guangwei, Chairman of the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China. The MOU, which was a result of a long and fruitful negotiation, makes upon Ethiopia an Approved Destination Status (ADS) and effectively designates it as a country to be visited by Chinese tourists who wish to travel in groups. It is believed that this is a landmark agreement between the two countries.
The government of Ethiopia is appreciative of the fact that the government of China has positive considerations to Ethiopia's touristic attractions and the important place it holds in being a unique touristic destination in Africa and indeed the whole world. The government of Ethiopia believes that the promotion of tourism between the two countries would not only open the doors for stronger people-to-people relations but also consolidates the trade and investment relations between the two countries.
Ethiopia, situated in the Horn of Africa, is one of the oldest nations with long recorded history dating back to 3,000 years. During this long period of history, the Ethiopian people have left behind them remains of their civilizations and culture in different parts of the country. This fact has made the country a depository of timeless historical sites visited by young and old.

Three Sites Selected as International Attractions by WTO

A senior expert with World Tourism Organization disclosed that as part of the global effort it has launched to utilize sustainable tourism for poverty reduction it has selected three sites in Southern Nations Region as international tourist attractions. Tourism Development and Marketing Special Advisor with the Organization, Richard Denman told WIC after paying a two day visit to Nechsar, Mago National Parks and the New York Cave in Konso special woreda that the stated sites were selected as international tourist attractions.
He said the selected sites would be spotted on the world tourism attraction map and information about the sites would be disseminated across the world. With the view to expanding and protecting the sites, Denman underscored that capacity building activities would be undertaken to benefit the local people living in the environs. Denman also noted that his visit to Awassa, Aleka, Arbaminch and Konso hotsprings, caves and parks has helped him to collect important information about the sites. The international recognition of the Ethiopian sites is vital for the development of the sector in the country, he said. (WIC - June 05,2004)

Ethiopian-African American University to be Established in Addis

The Ministry of Capacity Building has announced the Ethiopian-African American University that will respond to Ethiopia's need for food security, healthcare, and technological innovations will soon be established. The university will serve Ethiopia and Africa using a U.S. model of higher education - a model which will be adapted and enhanced to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and the instruction adheres to the highest standards of academic excellence, a document released by the Ministry said.
The Ethiopian Government pledges all the necessary support for the realization of this grand endeavors of establishing the university, which operates a university-affiliated hospital and provide auxiliary support activities through privately owned or privately managed operations. The university will be an autonomous public private partnership that will provide education, training, and applied research and development as a non-profit organization, it said. Ultimately, the university will champion innovation, technology adaptation, and capacity building while respecting and building upon the experience and the integrity of the culture of Ethiopia and of Africa, it said.
The university envisages forging partnerships with Universities and higher institutions of learning in the U.S., international organizations, Ethiopians in the Diaspora, among others. The ministry expressed willingness to cooperate in fund raising events to realize the establishment of the university, whose main campus will be here in Addis Ababa. The Ethiopians in North America Health Professionals Association (ENAHPA) has pledged assistance in the activities to establish the university as pledges of support pour in also from other organizations in the U.S. and other countries. (ENA May 16,2004)

Ethiopian Cultural Troupe Participates in Beijing Festival

An Ethiopian cultural troupe had been participating in the "Meet in Beijing Art and Drama Festival" staged beginning the 1st to the 22nd of May. The Chinese Ministry of Culture coordinates the 4th festival in which delegations and cultural groups from African, Asian and European countries take part. The 25-member Ethiopian cultural troupe arrived in Beijing on April 28 as per the invitation extended by the Chinese Ministry of Culture.
Beginning from the Festival's launching in Beijing, the Ethiopian delegation has staged various cultural shows for weeks in various parts in China. The team had been staging various shows from 8-18 May in Hunan province before the official closing of the festival held at the Great Hall of the People on 22 May.
The Ethiopian cultural troupe that has won the particular interest of viewers has been invited to extend its stay in China for a month beyond the closing of the festival during which it toured various cities staging shows. The team has shown its performance in Boaji in Shaanxi province on 27 May and from then it went to Inner Mongolia Province.
The Ethiopian troupe has won particular attention owing to the uniqueness and kaleidoscopic nature of Ethiopia's cultural and artistic heritage. The cultural troupe showed its final performance on 21 June 2004 to invited guests of Chinese officials and representative of business community and diplomatic corps and Ethiopians residing in Beijing.
The festival provided an opportunity for the further enhancement of bilateral relations as well as in promoting Ethiopian culture among the Chinese public. Ethiopia decided to participate in "Meet in Beijing 2004" as part of the Addis Ababa Action Plan 2004-2006, which was endorsed in December 2003 by the ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.

AXUM Eagerly Awaits Obelisk Return

The retrieval of the Axum Obelisk, which took a protracted diplomatic mission, would pave ways to demand for the rest of the Ethiopians' and African national treasures looted by European invaders, residents of Axum town underscored. Officials, visitors and town residents that encouraged by the positive response of the incumbent Italian Government, they would raise voices for the return of various relics and manuscripts found in several European museums. Administrator of the Central Zone of Tigray State, Beyene Mikru said that in consultation with the National Committee for the return of Axum Obelisk, residents of the town and its environs, governmental institutions as well as private organizations are making preparations to warmly welcome the long-awaited pride of the nation.
Italian and Ethiopian archeologists are jointly working on how to reerect the Obelisk at its previous site, Beyene added. He also indicated that roads and bridges would soon be rehabilitated so as to safely transport the three pieces of the Obelisk from the airport to the site.
Ato Zenawi Asres who is the father of the Ethiopian premier on his part said that the return of the Obelisk is tantamount to the victory of Adowa and is a great success not only for the residents of Axum or the rest of the Ethiopian peoples but for all Africans as well who struggle for the return of their rightful properties looted by invaders Major B.H Bur wood Taylor, whom this reporter approached while he was visiting Axum Obelisks, was a military officer in the British army which assisted Emperor Haile Selassie I to defeat the Italian invaders. He said: "I first saw the Axum Obelisks in the early 50s. The existing tall one was the only that was erected. The others were lying all down. It is wonderful to see them erected again .My heart is here. I brought my companion to share with me my happiness which I have here 26 years in all". " Ethiopia , which is known as the land of queen of Sheba, has a long history which dates back 900 years before the birth of Christ. The Axum obelisks prove this reality. It is wise to preserve them ,"Major Burwood Taylor advised. (EH - 28 March)

Journal First Issue Launched

The first issue of the International Journal of Ethiopian Studies (IJES), an academic journal edited by senior Ethiopian and Ethiopianist scholars, published September 2003 in USA, California, was launched at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES) yesterday in the presence of Addis Ababa University (AAU) scholars, journal editorial board members, scholars who work in Ethiopian studies and other invited guests.
After giving an overall picture of journals of Ethiopian studies so far, Prof. Richard Pankhurst described the journal as a tool of marginalizing the studies of Ethiopia and over viewing the country's socio-economic, political, historical and other important aspects. One of the senior editors of the journal, Dr. Worku Negash, said on his part that the journal would have a paramount importance in advocating Ethiopia's social, economic, poletical, cultural as well as current and emergent issues and problems affecting Ethiopian society by way of stimulating debate and dialogue in the boarder Ethiopian community of policy makers, educaters, businesses leaders and other interested Ethiopians. (EH - 13 March)

ECO, Paleo Tourism Symposium Opens

A national symposium on "Eco and Paleo Tourism" organized by Walta Information Center (WIC)in cooperation with the Afar State, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ethiopia Tourism Commission conducted at Bilen lodge in the presence of scientists, palaeoanthropologists,researchers, policy makers and senior government officials.
Opening the symposium, Afar State President Ismael Alisero said that Afar possesses very unique and untapped tourism resources which have great potential to the attraction of local and foreign tourists. However, due to various the level of tourism development here is either non-existing or minimal.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Ambassador Teshome Toga also said that the development of tourisumshould primarily focus on the sustainable use of natural ,cultural and palaeoanthropological resources. Field visits, laying of a cornerstone for a modern archaeological museum at Semera, the future capital of Afar State, were part and parcel of the symposium.

"The Other Face of Ethiopia" Inaugurated

The Other Face of Ethiopia (TOFOE), a cultural center launched by Berhan Ethiopia, a non-governmental organization in Kebele 08 of Kirkos Sub-City of the metropolis at a cost of three million birr was inaugurated on January 3, 2004. Chairman of TOFOE, Robert Berkhaut said at the inaugural ceremony that the vision of " The Other Face of Ethiopia" is to educate the international public about the true Ethiopia, that has a rich history, a beautiful landscape and a mosaic of people with deferent ethnic backgrounds, languages, religions and culture.
He said TOFOE, which was launched in 1987 in Lima, Peru by Sabella Abay in memory of her late father Dejazmach Abay Kassa, has successfully showed the richest aspects of Ethiopia to the international community in North and South America, Africa and Europe over the last 16 years through various cultural and culinary events, art exhibitions, fashion shows and seminars.
The Founder and Manager of TOFOE, Sabella Abay said with its vision to raising awareness about Ethiopia's cultural and historical heritages, TOFOE has established its head quarters in Ethiopia with the inauguration of the cultural center which would serve both as a showcase of various traditional houses, arts and crafts from around the country and its head quarters. (WIC - January 3, 2004 )