Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s multilateral diplomacy has been earning the country significant achievements in international relations, according to the country’s ambassadors who are currently in Addis Ababa for the annual ministerial meeting.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to UK, Teferi Meles told ENA that Ethiopia has been pursuing foreign relations and diplomatic activities that befit its long history of diplomacy.
The country, which is a founder of the League of Nations, the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, has been actively participating in the multilateral organizations, he added.
‘Ethiopia’s foreign relations and diplomatic activities across the ages have shown its significant place in the field of diplomacy through its participation in the multilateral sphere,’ he noted.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Algeria, Nebiat Getachew said Ethiopia has participated as a member or founder of all the international institutions and organizations that we know today.
And the unique Diplomacy Week organized by t
he Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflects the nation’s greatness and its significant role in multilateral diplomacy at international arena, he stated.
According to him, foreign relations and diplomacy work should not be confined to the ministry or diplomats but needs to involve the community.
Thus, it is necessary to make diplomacy more comprehensive in order to create foreign relations that have redeemed the times, Nebiat added.
Ethiopia had a high reputation in the world before many Latin American, Caribbean, Asian and African countries became a country in the world, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Lencho Bati said on his part.
Throughout the long history of Ethiopia, the leaders of each generation have introduced Ethiopia to the world by creating strong diplomatic relations, he pointed out.
According to Lencho, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has played a crucial role in promoting green diplomacy through the Green Legacy initiative and enabling Ethiopia to join BRICS.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Djibouti,
Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye added that Ethiopia’s diplomatic achievements recorded in the last five years are proof of the commitment of the leaders.
Yet Ethiopia should strengthen its global relations with other countries in order to reinforce its influence and acceptance in the region.
The Ethiopian ambassadors have visited the exhibition ‘From an African Hub to the World,’ which highlights Ethiopia’s 116-year diplomatic history and contemporary diplomatic accomplishments.
The exhibition at the Science Museum will remain open to public until February 2, 2024.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Mr Apraku Nketia, the Head of Legal Services and Research, ECOWAS Court of Justice (CCJ), says although the ECOWAS Court of Justice plays a crucial role in adjudicating electoral disputes, it is not an electoral arbiter.
He said the Court jurisdiction and functions cover a broader spectrum of issues related to the interpretation and application of the ECOWAS Treaty and other legal instruments within the region.
He said the ECOWAS Court could not just be an electoral dispute arbiter and that if a member state, group of people or individuals felt that the conduct of the electoral process had in a way affected their human rights, the protocols and treaties would apply.
However, ‘the court cannot be an electoral arbiter, simpliciter,’ Mr Nketia said at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to climax a week-long sensitisation visit to Ghana.
Currently, over 400 judgements have been delivered by the ECOWAS Court of Justice with 131 outstanding judgements have not been enf
orced.
‘We have a lot of protocols that govern the conduct of elections in member countries. And these protocols are binding on member states. If in the preparation and at the conduct of the election, if a member state is not actually complying with some of the provisions of this protocol, it will amount to maybe violation of the rights of a group of people or an individual. If you can converse your argument before the court with solid evidence, then the court can grant you an audience,’ he said.
He said the desire of the court was to see all judgment rendered by the courts being implemented.
Mr Nketiah said when the court gave its judgement, it was up to political leaders to implement those judgements, and that without the implementation of those judgements, the issues would still linger on, and the relevance of the court would not be felt in such instances.
As part of measures to ensure the full implementation of judgements, he said the ECOWAS Court of Justice had been engaging stakeholders like the min
istries responsible for the implementation of judgements like Ghana’s Attorney General’s Department.
He noted that, ‘there are other high-level engagements that the management of the court together with the ECOWAS Commission did to have the decisions of the court implemented. Internally, the court has also instituted some measures like appointing officers who are responsible particularly for the implementation of the judgment.’
‘The political will rest with the leadership of the community, various countries, as to how they would
take and prioritize the implementation processes. It is solely up to them. Ours is persuasive and theirs is the decision-making,’ he added.
He said the success of an international tribunal should not be limited to the implementation of its judgements alone, and that some of its judgements had informed policy formulation across the entire community.
Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Political and Economic), who spoke earlier at
the opening of a sensitisation forum, said the ECOWAS Court of Justice stood as a cornerstone institution with a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law, promoting human rights and fostering regional integration.
He said over the years Ghana had demonstrated unwavering support for the ECOWAS Court of Justice through active participation in its proceedings, adherence to its decisions and collaboration with the Court’s mechanisms.
Source: Ghana News Agency