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Ethiopian
Embassy, Washington DC
August 23, 2010
The 50th year of African Independence was colorfully celebrated, punctuated
by a round table discussion deliberating on the tremendous sacrifice paid
during the pre-independence colonial era and the achievements cherished in
the post-political independence of the continent.
The round table discussion was held last Saturday on August 21, 2010, at
a half -day town-hall colloquium conduced in the premises of the Embassy of
Ethiopia in Washington Dc.
Study papers highlighting the socio-economic development attained, the
challenges surmounted and the opportunities seized upon, by the African people
were also presented during the function.
H.E. Mr. Tesfaye Yilma, Charge d'Affaires, of the Embassy of Ethiopia, in Washington
Dc. brought to the attention of the attendees, the leading role that Ethiopia
pioneered towards the realization of the political independence of the continent,
itself being the only torch-bearer of independence by defeating a colonial
aggressor in the last quarter of the 19th century during the famous battle
of Adwa, that has remained as the acme of the empowerment of the Black people.
The Charge d'Affaires also succinctly and convincingly underscored Ethiopia's
unrelenting effort at the actualization of democracy and peace currently in
full motion by bolstering its drive through its double -digit development progress
being registered presently.
Presentations pertaining to the engagement of the African people at home and
their off-springs, elsewhere in the world were also made particularly foucasing
on the need to accommodate the African Diaspora in the current development
drive of the continent.
Dr. Michael Merid, Associate Economic Advisor to the Prime Minster of Ethipia,
also addressed the colloquium by stressing Ethiopia's proven path of development
based on the over-all objective reality of the country by catalyzing and devising
an accelerated pace of appropriate socio-economic development paradigm.
Africa
and the Caribbean, Bridging the Gap, presented by Mr. Ray McPherson, Peace
and Reconciliation in Africa, by Rev. Dr. Jack Gaines, and African
Development and the African Diaspora, by Dr. Sharon Freeman, and the
Role of Ethiopia in the Pan-African Movement, were other salient topics
dealt
by invited guests which triggered off a lively menu for continued dialogue.
(Here is the attached document of the full text of Dr. Michael Merid, presented
at the round-table discussion forum) : Full Statement
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