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In a few days, at midnight on September 11 we will
welcome a new Ethiopian Year, 2000 and the Third
Millennium and bid farewell to the outgoing year,
1999, and the past Millennium. As the clock counts
down to the few remaining days of the year, I would
like to extend, on behalf of all the staff of the
Caretaker Administration and on my own behalf,
cordial greetings and best wishes to all residents
of Addis Abeba, to all the peoples Ethiopia as well
as our friends and well wishers throughout the
world.
The coming year is indeed a milestone in the history
of our country. Not only does it mark the beginning
of the New Ethiopian Millennium but it also stands
as testimony to the survival of our people in the
face of numerous odds and challenges. During the
past, millennia, the people of Ethiopia faced
numerous challenges both from within and without, as
well as natural and man made disasters. They
successfully and repeatedly foiled the aggressive
adventures of technology superior armies from
without while withstanding calamities such as
drought and famine from within.
The New Year and New Millennium are therefore
testimony to the resilience of our people who
marched through history, steadfastly holding high
the banner of freedom, when so many peoples in so
many other lands succumbed to colonial domination
one after the other. The Ethiopian people cherished
freedom and fought for its preservation. Indeed,
Ethiopia stood out as a beacon to all those seeking
independence from colonial domination.
But there were also internal conflicts and crises
which prevented the country from enjoying
sustainable peace and attaining social and economic
progress. Crises of severe magnitude bring out the
best as well as the worst in us, and we have
witnessed both in recent years.
Therefore, even though Ethiopia is endowed with
considerable natural resources, it ranks low on the
scale of social and economic development. This is a
legacy that the present generation has inherited,
and a challenge which both present and future
generations have to face. The New Year and New
Millennium are therefore full of challenges but also
opportunities.
Particularly in the age of globalisation, we need to
adopt a new culture and a new outlook to face the
challenges ahead and build a just and prosperous
society. The task is to bring out the best of our
initiatives and creativity, our capabilities and
potential to galvanising the forces of production
and do away with poverty once and for all. If we
adopt new work ethics, strengthen our social harmony
and resolve, poverty will certainly be a thing of
the past.
Finally, may the year 2000 bring us joy, love, peace
and everything we look forward to in our lives. I
wish you a bright and prosperous future.
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