Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Dr. Mohamed Nasr Eddin, said on Monday, March 30, that a high level delegation will head for Ethiopia to probe means of boosting cooperation on technical studies needed to carry out some water projects there.

In statements, the Minister said he entrusted a team comprising experts of the Ministry along with university professors to do an assessment for Toshka and As-Salam waterway projects through making field visits in order to have a preconception of these projects.

Moreover, he added that the Ministry will study the possibility of restructuring the Ministry’s sectors and drawing up new legislations to eradicate centralism.

By Colum Lynch | Washington Post

UNITED NATIONS — The Obama administration decided Tuesday to seek a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, reversing a decision by the Bush administration to shun the United Nations’ premier rights body to protest the influence of repressive states.

“Human rights are an essential element of American global foreign policy,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement. “With others, we will engage in the work of improving the U.N. human rights system. . . . We believe every nation must live by and help shape global rules that ensure people enjoy the right to live freely and participate fully in their societies.”

The United States announced it would participate in elections in May for one of three seats on the 47-member council, joining a slate that includes Belgium and Norway.

New Zealand, which had also been on the ballot, supports the U.S. decision and withdrew its name to make room for the United States, Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced. “Frankly, by any objective measure, membership of the Council by the U.S. is more likely to create positive changes more quickly than we could have hoped to achieve them,” he said.

The decision was welcomed by U.N. officials and rights advocates, who had been briefed on the decision. Human rights activists have been advocating U.S. membership in the council since its creation in March 2006.

“This is a welcome step that gives the United States and other defenders of human rights a fighting chance to make the institution more effective,” said a human rights advocate familiar with the decision. “I think everybody is just desperate to have the United States and Barack Obama run for the human rights council, and countries are willing to bend over backward to make that happen.”

The Geneva-based Human Rights Council was established in March 2006 to replace the 60-year-old Human Rights Commission, which lost international credibility after countries with abysmal rights records, such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, were allowed to join and thwart criticism of their actions.

The Bush administration refused to join the new rights body, saying it was not convinced that it represented much of an improvement over its predecessor. John R. Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations when the council was created, said at the time that the United States would have more “leverage in terms of the performance of the new council” by not participating in it and thus signaling a rejection of “business as usual.”

Reached Tuesday, Bolton denounced the Obama administration’s decision. “This is like getting on board the Titanic after it’s hit the iceberg,” he said. “This is the theology of engagement at work. There is no concrete American interest served by this, and it legitimizes something that doesn’t deserve legitimacy.”

The Obama administration and rights advocates concede that the Human Rights Council has failed to emerge as a powerful champion of human rights, saying it has devoted excessive attention to alleged abuses by Israel and too little to abuses in places such as Darfur, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Last week, the rights council adopted a resolution sponsored by Pakistan and other Islamic states that condemns the “defamation of religion” as a violation of human rights, arguing that abuses against Muslims have mounted in the years following the 911 terror attacks. But European states criticized the Islamic resolution, saying it posed a threat to the right of free speech. However, the decision to seek a seat on the council is in keeping with what President Obama has called a “new era of engagement” with other nations to advance U.S. security interests and meet the global challenges of the 21st century.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said: “Those who suffer from abuse and oppression around the world, as well as those who dedicate their lives to advancing human rights, need the council to be balanced and credible.” She said the United States seeks election to the body “because we believe that working from within, we can make the council a more effective forum to promote and protect human rights.”

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the U.N. system made up of 47 elected members whose mission is to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights globally. The next round of elections to the council will be held May 15 in the U.N. General Assembly in New York, with members elected to three-year terms. The council is scheduled to undergo a formal review of its structure and procedures in 2011, offering an opportunity for reform.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Reuters) – Ethiopia has agreed to end a long-running row with world governing body FIFA over leadership of the country’s football federation, giving the national team the chance to play in international competitions again.

Ethiopia were thrown out of the World Cup qualifying competition last year after refusing to honor an agreement reached with FIFA over restoring the local federations officially recognized leaders.

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) held an emergency meeting on Friday and decided to comply with FIFAs requirements, including holding a meeting to elect a new executive committee, state television and local media said.

Witness Brady Allen describes how Arssei Hindessa pulled victim Natalie Novak’s hair and hit her in the temple, during Hindessa’s trial Tuesday, Feb. 10. 2009, in Toronto. (Sun Media/Pam Davies)

TORONTO, CANADA (NP) – The former boyfriend of a 20-year-old Ryerson University student was convicted this afternoon of her second-degree murder, to the shocked gasps of the victim’s family.

The jury acquitted Arssei Hindessa, 32-year-old immigrant from Ethiopia, of first-degree murder in the May, 2006, death of Natalie Novak.

“No. No,” Novak’s relatives cried out as the jury foreman read the verdict in a Toronto courtroom.

Hindessa had slit Novak’s throat, and stabbed her nine times. The jury deliberated for nearly six days.

Toronto police Detective Stacy Gallant read a statement from Novak’s family, which called on Premier Dalton McGuinty to do more to protect victims of domestic violence. The statement noted that more than 120 women were killed by their male partners between 2002 and 2006, according to provincial data.

“The war is not only in Afghanistan but in the homes of our friends and neighbours. Poisoned dogs generate more press and sympathy than women and children murdered by violent men,” said the Novak family.

Hindessa, an Ethiopian refugee, admitted to killing Ms. Novak, who is from Bracebridge, during his testimony this month. He claimed he was “drunk and paranoid” that night. As well he suggested to the Ontario Superior Court jury that Ms. Novak provoked an argument. “She tried to guilt-trip me,” said Hindessa, who was already under a restraining order because of previous assaults against Ms. Novak.

Crown attorney Mary Humphrey told the jury last week in her closing submission that the killing was “planned and deliberate” by Hindessa.

“Mr. Hindessa is a liar and a manipulator. Please don’t be conned by him,” said Ms. Humphrey, who suggested jealousy was the
motive.

Defence lawyer Aston Hall urged the jury to come back with a manslaughter verdict, suggesting his client had a diminished mental state the evening he killed Ms. Novak.

The jury heard medical evidence Hindessa was delusional and paranoid and may sufferer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being tortured while imprisoned in Ethiopia.

“This is a tragedy all over,” said Mr. Hall outside court after the verdict. “A young woman lost her life. Clearly her family is in pain.”

The verdict was delivered by 11 jurors. The twelfth juror was dismissed yesterday morning after court staff observed her acting erratically. A family member informed the court she had a history of mental illness.

A second-degree murder conviction results in an automatic life sentence, with parole eligibility set between 10 and 25 years.

Six jurors recommended parole ineligibility be set at 25 years. Four others recommended 20 years. The other juror said 15 years.

The recommendations are not binding on Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy.

She will hold a sentencing hearing in May to determine how much time in prison Hindessa must serve before he can apply for parole.

– By Shannon Kari | National Post

Air Ethiopia, the newly established local private airline company, is seeking to acquire two additional Beech 1900s in three to four weeks’ time, Capital learnt.

After obtaining an operational license from the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) a month ago, it has already started conducting flights to different parts of the country.
Founded by Captain Abera Lemi, a former employee of Ethiopian Airlines, Air Ethiopia is currently operating one Beech 1900 after acquiring it on a lease-purchase basis from its US manufacturing company.

“Our aircraft, Beech 1900, has a special feature to suit the Ethiopian topography. The 19 seat capacity aircraft can also fly as high as 33000ft and 2625 rate of climb per minute,” the company said. “It also has a 17,500 ft single engine service ceiling. With this excellent performance in the case of emergency, we will be able to fly our destination safely.” The new entrant is now aiming to acquire two more aircrafts to expand its operation to different destinations in Ethiopia. The airline sees enormous untapped potential in the sector as it believes the demand is too big to be filled only by the current operators.

While the maintenance of the aircraft and training of the flight crew of Air Ethiopia is governed by the Ministry of Transport and Communication and ECAA, the company also claims it has set up high security standards and insurance coverage for all its passengers that put it on par with other airlines throughout the world.

Currently, the airline is providing charter, air safari, humanitarian and relief, mission and air ambulance flight services to and from Addis Ababa. It seeks to increase its regional scheduled flight service in the future when its fleet capacity is enhanced and once operational arrangements are made.

The company has already started flight services to Mekele and Bahir Dar using the aircraft that can cruise up to the speed of 600 kilometres per hour. The company’s schedule shows it fly Tuesdays and Fridays to Mekele and Mondays and Thursdays to Bahir Dar.

Following the enactment of the Investment Proclamation No. 280/2002, providing air transport services using aircrafts with a seating capacity of not more than 20 passengers is allowed. While only Ethiopian nationals can engage in the passengers service, the proclamation opens the air cargo services for foreigners without any restrictions.

Other than Ethiopian Airlines, there are currently four private aviation companies operating in the country. Abyssinia Flight Services, Trans Nation Airways and Suhura Cargo Services and Air Ethiopia have received Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the ECAA.