Bahir Dar: Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) Chief Commissioner, on the launching of the agenda-setting process in the Amhara region, emphasized that resolving problems facing the country through discussion and dialogue needs to be a culture. Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya underlined the importance of resolving challenges that have been facing the country through dialogue and consultation. The Ethiopian people need to adopt consultation as a cultural norm, he stressed.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the National Dialogue Commission commenced an agenda-gathering forum in Bahir Dar city, Amhara Region of Ethiopia today. The process involves 4,500 representatives, drawn from 267 districts and various societal groups across the region, who are participating in discussions to identify agendas. The consultation process will run from April 5 to 12, 2025.
In his remarks, the chief commissioner revealed that the Commission has been working impartially to ensure that the issues are addressed sustainably and in a manner that all parties are winners. Hence, the consultation is essential to resolve the problems through dialogue, he stressed. Expressing his gratitude for the participants, the chief commissioner urged them to discharge their responsibilities in setting agendas that reflect the concerns of the people.
Deputy Chief Commissioner Hirut Gebreselassie emphasized that dialogue and consultation are indispensable to bring about lasting peace to the country. She urged participants not only to raise issues but also to propose solutions, ensuring inclusivity and preventing any claims of underrepresentation. She highlighted the need for the agenda-setting process to be conducted without potential complaints of underrepresentation and encouraged participants to propose solutions apart from raising issues.
Another Commissioner, Melaku Woldemariam, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the last sustainable solution to the problems faced lies in the consultation.