(ENA):-The council of Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) deliberated today on its report to the sixth regular session and on draft amendments to its statute.

According to a spokesperson of the front, the council held its last meeting of this Ethiopian fiscal year as election of new council members will be conducted on the conferences of member organizations and the front that will take place in the first week of the Ethiopian New Year.

The report has evaluated in detail achievements and weaknesses in development, good governance, public relations and organizational activities, and has set directions to ensure the sustainability of the achievements and radically correct weaknesses.

The spokesperson said the report indicates that efforts should specially be exerted immediately after the conference to bring about fundamental changes in good governance.

The draft statute to be presented for ratification on the conference mainly focuses on ways of consolidating the office of EPRDF and the relationship of the front with partner organizations as well as on ways of organizing Youth and Women Leagues of EPRDF and their relationship with the front.

Group of mercenaries with mission to assassinate Oromia State Gov’t officials arrested

ECTV.org NEWS (09-07-06):- The President intends to nominate Donald Y. Yamamoto, of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Ambassador Yamamoto, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State. Prior to this, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Djibouti. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Director of the Office of East African Affairs. Ambassador Yamamoto received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Columbia University.

Nation obtains 1.8 bln. USD from export trade
The figure is erroneous, it is most likely 1.08bln. The good thing is the lower figure is still an increase from last year!
(waltainfo.com):-Addis Ababa, September 07, 2006 - Ethiopia obtained [1.08] billion USD from the export sector during the ending budget year, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said. The revenue exceeded by 189.6 million USD compared to the preceding budget year.

Deputy Prime-Minister His Excellency Addisu Legesse Exclusive Interview on ECTV (Video)

'Soldiers of Allah' raid Somali cinemas
AFP, September 4, 2006
MOGADISHU -- Islamist militia stormed makeshift cinemas in the Somali capital, seizing equipment and arresting more than two-dozen people for watching banned films, officials and witnesses said Saturday....
"... and Shaibya Eritrea is supporting such forces! while incarcerating many peaceful Eritreans for worshiping their God."

PM Meles Interview with Dimsti Woyane on the occasion of 8th congress of TPLF

Somali forces win airport battle
At least six people have been killed in fighting in Baidoa, where Somalia's transitional government is based.

Ethiopia top coffee exporter
Addis Abba – Ethiopia had overtaken Côte d'Ivoire to become the leading African coffee supplier, said Ethiopia's minister of agriculture and rural development

More Pictures

Follow-Up Report on DPM Addisu's Trip

September 2, 2006

Washington, DC--Deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legesse is winding up his trip to the United States. The public meeting held last night with a crowd of over 250 Ethiopians residing in the Washington metropolitan area was, by all accounts, a glowing success. Following the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister was requested to hold meetings with investors, civic associations and other civil society groups.

The Ethiopian Embassy had announced yesterday that the meeting originally scheduled for Saturday was switched to Friday in order to accommodate the Deputy Prime Minister’s schedule. The Embassy has asked us to extend its apologies to those individuals who they were unable to contact to inform them of the schedule change.

Despite the change in schedule, a crowd of thirty-seven people stood in today’s rain across from the embassy in an unsuccessful attempt to intimidate those members of the Ethiopian community wishing to engage in a dialogue with their government.

Many who attended last night’s event noted the irony of purporting to lead the struggle for democracy while suppressing the rights of others. They also expressed their hope that the Ethiopian government will continue its efforts to engage Ethiopians living abroad. One participant proposed that every effort should be made to persuade protestors standing outside the Embassy to take part in reasoned discourse about the issues that may divide our communities.

They came "against all odds"

In his remarks,Ato Addisu referred to the Ethiopian Diaspora in the united States as " intellectual capital for the development of Ethiopia." The Deputy-Prime Minister spoke freely of the challenges Ethiopia faced in pursuing development and furthering the democracy process and acknowledged the invaluable contribution those in the Diaspora can make. He concluded his remarks by saying that he anticipated a lively and vigorous discussion on a broad rang of issues.
His Excellency Ayalew Gobeze presented a three-year sectoral report on the highlights of the Amhara National Region,stressing the progress made in health,education and agriculture.

Commentary

Shaibya Warns TPLF not to Play with Fire! What Fire?
The Shaibya government in Eritrea never cease to amaze us. Its latest foray in to Somali politics is one of the many blunders it is committing. As readers recall it has been bashing the United State Government as if Eritrea needs more enemy. Eritrea has been told it is too weak, too small and too poor by many westerners before. It is also told by Ethiopia many times...Dr Addis Alem Balema a high ranking official in the TPLF led government in Tigray recently told Ethio-American of Tigrean origin that Eritrea's internal issue is for Eritrean to solve and Ethiopia has no intention in deposing or starting a fight with the Shaibya government

Update on demise of the University of Asmara

"While the vocal diaspora is getting cozy with the anti-education Mr. Issayas, their nemesis Meles Zenawi is busy building 13 new Universities to raise the total number to 25"

Observation from our reader

Uganda and Ethiopia urge IGAD meeting

Ethiopia takes lessons from Indian parliament