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Jenny and I have had the great privilege to live and
work for nearly four years in Ethiopia and the Horn
of Africa and have met many Ethiopians in every
corner of this great country. We have received
tremendous friendship. We will leave Ethiopia with
real sadness.
In recent times much has been achieved in Ethiopia,
despite the many challenges. I feel sure that all of
you will continue to work for peace, reconciliation,
understanding and better governance for a better
future for the next generation. There is a lovely
Ethiopian saying, "If you cannot hold children in
your arms, please hold them in your heart."
The United Kingdom's (UK) efforts in Ethiopia are
not all about official, historical, cultural, aid,
commercial or other formal links. So much is down to
civil society and the extraordinary efforts of
positive individuals in the two countries making a
special difference - as we see encapsulated in the
Perspectives book launched on November 9, 2007,
which is one of the special initiatives we have
taken to mark the Ethiopian Millennium.
But official links are important. Another more
'formal or historical' book to mark those strong
connections will be launched in January 2008, I
hope. Our development programme is approaching our
largest in Africa. The British Council's programme
is vital for building capacity of the modern vibrant
younger generation. We are encouraging investment
and will soon sign an Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement. And we are so committed to
working for peace, working to prevent conflict and
working to support Africa's development and the
African Union (AU) as this great continent moves
forward.
Ethiopia's future is being moulded by all of you.
What I have learned here - and it is a place for us
to learn - is that mutual respect; and trust; and
open, peaceful dialogue; giving space to each other
and acknowledging that all stakeholders in society
have a role to play; are so important. It is so
important that all Ethiopians build a future
together within this country and within
its institutions and that a fair and just
application of the law should give that confidence.
The country is rapidly modernising and I hope
positive change and creating choice and opportunity
will continue to be an ongoing agenda, in an
environment of opening up space, freedoms and
reforms, promoting universal values such as
accountability, transparency, justice and fair
play.
I have really admired the spirit in which the UK
team and the international team have worked together
as one - in honest and constructive partnership with
Ethiopia. That is the real way of doing things.
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