Parliament ratifies accords
Addis Ababa, May 09, 2007 - The House of Peoples' Representatives has endorsed a bilateral trade agreement Ethiopia had signed with Nigeria and ratified another providing for the prevention of transborder crimes. The House during its 26th regular session on Monday endorsed the Ethio-Nigeria Trade agreement with a sweeping 359 votes for, no objection and 5 abstentions.
The transborder crimes prevention agreement was ratified with 283 votes for, 43 against and 38 abstentions.
The bills were approved upon recommendations by the Trade and Industry as well as the Foreign, Defence and Security Affairs Standing committees.
The Ethio-Nigeria Trade agreement is believed to promote south-south cooperation in addition to its significance placing Ethiopia a gateway for trade exchanges across Central and Western Africa .
Implementation modalities of the trade agreement are made to comply with the laws of the respective countries and are based on mutual benefits, the committees said.
The trade pact would be supportive of Ethiopia's efforts to achieve expanded trade base and bring about accelerated development.
The transborder crimes prevention agreement is said a significant instrument in Ethiopia's efforts to tackle cross-border organized crimes including drug trafficking, terrorism and contraband. Ratification of the agreement by all signatories will help efficient coordination to trace suspected activities and bring perpetrators to the justice.
Meanwhile, a motion of adjournment was presented to the House on the recent massacre committed by the self-styled Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) on 65 Ethiopians and 9 Chinese oil exploration project workers.
The motion has urged the international community to condemn the act and also to censure the Eritrean government - a member of the UN - which is leading a ring of terror, which is said a threat not only to Ethiopia and East Africa, but also to world peace.
The motion is expected to be endorsed by the House on the coming Thursday.
(ENA)
