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05 June, 2007
Addis Ababa, June 5, 2007 (Addis Ababa) - The much-awaited Ethiopian millennium celebration has been officially launched at the first of the tree planting days was held here on Tuesday at designated millennium parks in what is termed as "Two Trees for 2000" project.
At the launch here in Addis at Yeka Millennium Park, President of the Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Council, Addisu Legesse said the major aim of the celebration is to alleviate poverty, strengthen the ongoing democratization process, ensuring good governance and change the distorted image of the country.
The economic growth the country registered for four consecutive years have laid the foundation for setting the nation well into the third millennia with a new hope for accelerated development, Addisu, who is the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said.
The result achieved to rein in the subversive activities of terrorists was a gain significant to eliminate undesirable hurdles posed to Ethiopia's development and democratization path, Addisu said.
Addisu said Ethiopians should strive to make the country one of the middle-income countries - a major national agenda which sets out to do so within the first few decades of the third millennia.
Natural resources conservation is among the major activities that the government has given priority, he indicated in his address to the launch, where he planted his share of the tree seedlings under the "Two Trees for 2000" initiative that sets out to leave a worthwhile generational legacy to the coming generation.
He called upon all citizens to contribute their share towards the success of the project by taking part in the tree-planting program in the next 36 days.
Also on the occasion, Director General of Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Secretariat, Seyoum Bereded said poverty alleviation, building of democracy and ensuring of good governance are tasks which citizens should stand in unison to accomplish.
Awareness creating orientations on environment protection would be offered to the public so as to ensure that the millennium seedlings take roots.
More than 60 million tree seedlings are expected to be transplanted in the next 36 days.
Seyoum called upon citizens to contribute to efforts underway to change the distorted image of the country in the world.
Mayor of the Addis Ababa Care Taker Administration, Birhane Deressa said the two trees for 2000 project is expected to contribute tremendously for the rehabilitation of the environment and in the long run to contain recurring droughts.
United Nations Environment Protection Representative to AU, UNECA and Ethiopia, Dr. Strike Mkandla also said these "trees of life and hope" are being planted on the World Environment Day, when adaptation to climate change is on the minds of the world.
UNEP and the whole UN Country Team are behind the Secretariat and will be taking part in supportive activities, Dr. Mkandla said.
He said in the next two weeks UNICEF, UNEP and other UN agencies will be working with youth and their organizations towards the goal of planting 20 million trees as part of the Millennium Campaign.
President Girma Woldegiorgis officially launched the Ethiopian Millennium. The president is well known as a long-time advocate of the environment.
Senior government officials, Ambassadors and religious leaders, among others, attended the launching ceremony.