New York – Ethiopian Foreign Minister, H.E. Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, addressed the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), urging global leaders to prioritize multilateral cooperation in the face of growing global challenges. Speaking at the high-level political debate, he reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to global peace and security while calling for renewed solidarity among member states.
Ambassador Taye warned that the United Nations is grappling with complex issues that may exceed its capacity, emphasizing the need for collective action to tackle pressing threats. He highlighted critical challenges such as the arms race, deepening poverty, inequality, climate change, and the declining commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stressing that these issues require immediate attention from both the UN and its member states.
Turning to Ethiopia’s progress, Ambassador Taye noted key initiatives that have contributed to the country’s development and require further international support. He praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative, which has increased the country’s forest cover from 3% to 24%, making Ethiopia a key player in the global fight against climate change while transitioning to non-fossil fuel energy sources.
On regional issues, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed Ethiopia’s dedication to working with Nile Basin countries to ensure equitable utilization of water resources, as demonstrated by the signing and ratification of the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). He also highlighted Ethiopia’s commitment to safe maritime activities in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, focusing on the need to combat terrorism, particularly the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.
Ambassador Taye expressed appreciation for the resilience of the Somali people and the sacrifices made by the military forces of Ethiopia, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda in combating terrorist groups in Somalia. He called on the Somali government to acknowledge these efforts and urged external actors to avoid actions that could exacerbate regional tensions.
Addressing Ethiopia’s memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, Ambassador Taye described it as a move toward fostering regional growth and prosperity, in line with existing political realities in Somalia. He pointed out that similar agreements have been made by other nations and argued that there is no justification for the Federal Government of Somalia to respond with hostility unless it seeks to distract from internal political issues.
