NEWS RELEASE

ETHIOPIAN MILLINUM FESTIVAL

September 11, 2007

With just under five months left on the Ethiopia calendar before the turn of the millennium, preparation to celebrate this unique day is underway in Ethiopia and in major cities around the world.

The Ethiopian Millennium Festival in Ethiopia is touted to showcase the most spectacular cluster of events and raft of participatory projects the nation has ever witnessed in living memory.   It will run from September 2007 to September 2008 and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians from the Diaspora, foreigners of Ethiopian descent as well as visitors from all over the world.

A high level Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Secretariat is mandated to coordinate the millennium and use this unique opportunity to create unforgettable memories; to leave behind a legacy of a united and determined Ethiopia; and, lay down a strong foundation for a national shared vision and common platform for the future generation and for the future prosperity of Ethiopia.

The event will kick start on September 11, 2007 in Addis Ababa and other major cities with glitzy music extravaganza.   This event will herald the start of year-long festivities expected to cost tens of millions of dollars and attract hundreds of thousands of people from around the world.  

In addition to the musical extravaganza, the celebration will include the construction of Millennium Parks, a Coffee Museum and launching of three Arts and Heritage Exhibitions.

Recently, the 8^th Regular summit of African Union leaders declared the millennium as “an African Occasion” giving it broader and continental legitimacy.  Plans are also underway to celebrate “African Week” in Addis Ababa.  Heads of states from around Africa are expected to attend this event.

With such a glitzy promotion and the love for Ethiopia, thousands of Ethiopian Canadians and their Canadian Friends have started preparing to converge in Addis Ababa and celebrate this memorable day.  

For those who will not make it to Ethiopia, a Canadian branch of the Ethiopian National Millennium Council is preparing a weekend of music, art and cultural extravaganza in Toronto starting September 15, 2007.

For more information about events in Ethiopia visit:  www.Ethiopia2000.com. Or contact the Millennium Secretariat @ muluethiomillennium@yahoo.com .

For more information about events in the Greater Toronto Area please contact Ethio-Can Millennium Organizing Committee at EthioCan2000@yahoo.ca or call (647) 833 7785.