Speaking at the opening of the 17th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies here on Monday, Seyoum said the first of these conferences was held in Rome in 1959 where only one person from Ethiopia attended the conference.

Ethiopia first hosted the third conference in 1966, and subsequently the eighth, eleventh and fourteen meetings. The minister said those people who attended the conferences have seen major political economic and social changes in their life times.  

Seyoum said the Ethiopian Empire reached its apogee perhaps in the early 60’s only to disappear a dozen years later. A military dictatorship of appalling violence has been and gone, he said.

Now, the minister said, the country has something different, a democratic constitution and a federal government founded on universal democratic values and norms, which is the basis for the new Ethiopia.  

The foundations for making this ancient nation viable in the 21st century, and beyond, are being laid and are being consolidated.

This great country eighteen years after the difficult period of full of uncertainties that Ethiopia has never, in its modern history, been as ready as it is today to defend its legitimate interest, to be reliable and beneficial ally to its partners and to those who wish it well and take advantage of opportunities and withstand unfriendly acts.

Seyoum said the rapid economic growth in which Ethiopia embarks up on is unseen in its entire modern history.

The infrastructural transformation of the country not just in urban areas is open to factual verification.  

In both health and education sectors, the progress made has been significant, he said. On both sectors Ethiopia is reasonably optimistic to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

The achievements in the creation, expansion and deepening of the democratic space in Ethiopia over the last eighteen years is equally historic and this will be part of the bedrock which the viability of Ethiopia in the 21st century beyond rests.  

The minister called upon scholars and academics as well as practitioners to launch joint efforts to enable this great nation to continue to thrive not only in the interest of its own people, but also in those of the people of the region and the entire African continent.

Scholars and friends of Ethiopia from different parts of the world are in attendance in the five-day conference organized in connection with the 50th Golden Jubilee celebration of the International Conference of Ethiopian Studies.

Various research papers would be presented on languages and anthropologies development during the last fifty years journey of the conference. (ENA)