Ethiopia Celebrated 1999 New Year with a bash.

(Aigaforum, Sep 13, 2006):- Ethiopia celebrated New Year with a bash. This year’s New Year was celebrated amidst the catastrophic floods that hit the country and the never-ending fiasco south of our border in Somalia. However sources say the mood in Addis was upbeat and two huge New Year parties ushered the country and Addis Abebaeans to 1999.

President Girma Woldegiorgis held a New Year party to high-level government officials and other invited dignitaries as well as civil leaders. Prime Minister Meles and high-level officials from his government, as well as military staff from the Ethiopia Defense Forces was present at the party. Among the other invited guests there were Opposition leaders, Civic leaders, Religious leaders as well as diplomats and known foreign dignitaries.

Mean while Sheraton Addis was rocked all night with musical extravaganza. Known musicians and artists entertained the more than 5,500 paid partygoers with a scintillating music and other forms of entertainment. Among the many musicians present were the known Aster, Hamelmal, Efrem, Abraham and others musicians. The party lasted all night. The many expatriates present were delighted to be at the party and in Ethiopia. Ato Nugusie Woldemariam of Hager Fikir was also present.

Speaking of Nugusie Woldemariam, while the vocal Diaspora is searching a ‘liberated’ land via Asmara and a certain radio host Demisse, Nugusie will be traveling to all parts of Ethiopia. Expect Nugusie once and for all to bury the many unfounded stories the vocal Diaspora has been churning day in and day out.

Whilst the vocal Diaspora is busy making make believe stories about defection, turmoil and terrorism, Ethiopians have been celebrating 1999 New Year, upbeat and with a very bright future. By all accounts the country is poised to have a good harvest. The rainy season has been good in all parts of the country. The only draw back from the coming year is the country must deal with the shortage of cement. Cement is still high priced and in high demand. Aigaforum talked to people close to the construction industry in the country and the cement shortage is causing sever distress in the industry. Construction companies have been forced to lay off people and if the issue is not resolved it will only get worse.

The government relying on Sheik Alamudin to mitigate the shortage is not working at all according to our informed sources. The same source told Aigaforum it would be wise for the government to allow the same privilege the sheik has been getting to other small-scale importers so that the shortage is resolved as soon as possible. The way it is the sheik is taking too long to import the said quantity and it is costing the country dearly in employment revenue.