Part I
The late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who transformed Ethiopia, has been widely praised both in life and in death. Three years ago this month, Ethiopians from far and near paid their last respects to the "Man of the People" with rivers of tears. Ethiopians are at the final stages to commemorate the third year of the death of the strong and dedicated PM Meles Zenawi. In addition, many countries of the world had paid tribute to the late Ethiopia's PM.
President Barack Obama said PM Meles deserves recognition for his lifelong contribution to Ethiopia's development, particularly his unyielding commitment to Ethiopia's poor and pro- poor policies. He said I had met with Prime Minister Meles at the G-8 Summit and recalls my personal admiration for his desire to lift millions of Ethiopians out of abject poverty, through his drive for food security. President Obama added that he was also grateful for the late PM's dedication to peace and security in Africa, his contributions to the African Union, and his voice for Africa on the world stage.
Going forward, we encourage the Government of Ethiopia to enhance its support for development, democracy, regional stability and security, human rights, and prosperity for its people. David Cameron, British PM on his part had said that Prime Minister Meles was an inspirational spokesman and ardent advocate of Africa on global issues and manifested amazing leadership and vision on Somalia and Sudan.
His personal contribution to Ethiopia's development, in particular by lifting millions of Ethiopians out of the mire of poverty, has set extra-ordinary example for the region. Mr. Cameron said his thoughts went out with his family and with the nation of Ethiopia, he will be greatly missed. Similarly, the Ex-British PM Tony Blair had said PM Meles Zenawi was a hugely significant figure in Ethiopia's history, in particular helping guide his country from extreme poverty to an era of economic growth and development. Blair said that the seed of mutual respect and trust which Meles had sowed at his visit has today produced strong bilateral relations unheard of in the annals of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom. Ethiopia stands out as the largest recipient of UK aid, which currently stands at £1.3 billion over five years.
Same Ex-PM Gordon Brown also said that the poor of the world had lost one of their greatest champions with the death of Prime Minister Meles. Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world, made more progress in education, health and economic development under his leadership than at any time in its history and it is a tragedy for the Ethiopian people that they had lost a committed leader and a champion of children at such a young age. He was a leader not just for Ethiopia but for Africa and for global development, leading the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), sitting on the G2O as Africa's representative, and a member of the 2005 Africa Commission. When I met him we held meetings about how we could ensure every child would be in school in Ethiopia by 2015.
His passion was in abolishing poverty and our hope is that he will inspire a new generation of men and women who will champion the cause of eradicating poverty. Chinese President Hu Jintao on his part had said Meles was an outstanding leader of Ethiopia and a renowned African statesman who was dedicated to the great cause of national development and Africa's revival. "Meles was an old aide of the Chinese people and paid high attention to advancing ties with China; we will never forget the great contributions that he made to the establishment and development of the China - Ethiopia comprehensive cooperative partnership," Hu said. Indian PM Manmohan Singh spoke about Zenawi as a towering statesman who effectively articulated and advanced the continent's interest in the international form.
The PM noted,"in his death, Ethiopia had lost a remarkable leader whose contribution towards peace, progress and development of his country will be long remembered." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Mr.Meles would be remembered for his exceptional leadership and advocacy on African issues within and outside the continent and for overseeing his country's economic development. European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso also said Prime Minister Meles was a respected African leader. He demonstrated strong personal commitment over many years to improving the lives of not just his own but all African peoples, through his work on African unity, climate change, development and in promoting peace and stability in Africa at large in the Horn in particular. Secretary of State Department Hillary Rodham Clinton said that she admired the Prime Minister's personal commitment to transforming Ethiopia's economy and to expanding education and health services. He was an important and influential voice in Africa, and we especially valued his role in promoting peace and security in the region.
I am confident that Ethiopia will peacefully navigate the political transition according to its constitution. Ambassador Susan E. Rice U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations on her part said that Meles was disarmingly regular, unpretentious, and direct. He was selfless, tireless and totally dedicated to his work and family. True, he never belied any lack of confidence in his judgments. He was tough, unsentimental and sometimes unyielding. For, among Prime Minister Meles' many admirable qualities, above all was his world-class mind. A life-long student, he taught himself and many others so much. Rice added that of course, Meles's vision and impact never halted at Ethiopia's borders. Across Africa, fellow leaders looked to Prime Minister Meles to help them and make peace and jump start their economies.
He was instrumental in building the African Union. He made IGAD deliver. He confronted terrorism directly and countered violent extremists bent on undermining the state and the region. He did so much to build. He worked vigorously to end bitter conflicts - from Burundi to Liberia. He was crucial to the negotiation and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended Sudan's tragic civil war. I also can testify personally how much Ethiopia, under Prime Minister Meles's leadership, has given to the United Nations its lifesaving efforts - from preventing and resolving conflict to striving to meet the Millennium Development Goals, from combating climate change to serving in UN peacekeeping operations, most recently in Abyei.
These contributions remind us that even nations facing their own challenges can make vast contributions to our shared security. The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, The Commission will remember the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi for his exceptional contribution to the advancement of the objectives of the AU and the promotion of Africa's interests in global fora. In particular, PM Meles played a critical role in furthering the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), whose Implementation Committee he was chairing.
He also presided over with competence and utmost commitment the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). The Commission also salutes Ethiopia's contribution, under Prime Minister Meles's leadership, to the promotion of peace and security in Africa, both within the framework of the AU and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). He also added that PM MelesZenawi had also overseen the dramatic transformation of his country, which is today one of the top economic performers on the continent. In so doing, he has played an important role in pioneering a new era of hope and growth in Africa, driven as he was by the vision of Ethiopia and Africa's Renaissance.
Source: AllAfrica
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