Written answers

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Diplomatic Relations

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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24. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current state of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3884/22]

Photo of Colm BrophyColm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s partnership with Ethiopia is longstanding - our Embassy in Addis Ababa opened in 1994 and Ethiopia has been our largest bilateral development partner in the last five years.

The situation in Tigray and in other parts of northern Ethiopia since the outbreak of the conflict in late 2020 is of grave concern. The conflict is having a devastating impact on civilians with widespread human rights violations, while the number of casualties continues to rise. Over 9 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

Ireland has played a leading role in the international response to the crisis. Through our bilateral engagements, as well as within the European Union and at the UN Security Council, Ireland continues to advocate for full humanitarian access to those in need, an urgent end to violence, dialogue, accountability for atrocities, and ultimately a political solution to the conflict.

Ireland’s principal focus has been on the humanitarian consequences of the war and the need to end the violence. Last year, Ireland contributed almost €25m to the humanitarian response in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian authorities indicated that their decision last November to restrict the size of our Embassy in Addis Ababa was due to the positions Ireland has articulated internationally, including at the UN Security Council, on the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia.

As we have made clear, our positions on the conflict are shared by our EU partners and the wider international community. Our focus has been on ending the conflict and addressing humanitarian needs. Our solidarity with and commitment to the people of Ethiopia remains strong, and we will continue to have frank and constructive engagement with our Ethiopian counterparts. We hope the decision of the government of Ethiopia will be temporary, so that our Embassy staff can return to carrying out their important duties in the country as soon as possible.

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