An official statement by NAMA with respect to the state visit by the President of Eritrea to the State of Amhara!
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We are delighted to have the Eritrean president and his deligation as our guests to the Amhara people. This is the first ever state visit made directly to the Amhara state. We appreciate the honouring of the invitation extended to the president and we are very pleased to welcome and praise the visit.
We hope that this visit will give the president a chance to gain a personal impression about the Amhara people.
Thanks to the resumption of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, we have embarked up on this opportunity for us to be in touch with each other.
Words simply cannot describe the many riches the Amaharan and Eritrean nations have and ought to share.
We would like to inform that the Amhara people believe in the importance of ambition and development.
The Amharan and Eritrean people have peacefully lived together for ages. We have a long shared boundary and the economic ties between us go back a long way; albeit disruptions at certain times. Now, we should give the economy stronger foundations and look to the future. Both nations should seize this opportunity to talk and deal about how to boost cooperation.
With the predicament that followed the war between the two countries, we know that many Eritreans were displaced. However, during that unfortunate time, the Amhara people were sympathetic to their Eritrean brothers and sisters; stood by their side in giving protections to their persons and properties. A remarkable incident is the safe custody on behalf of an Eritrean family of their home by an Amhara fellow from Debremarkos who finally handed it over to them recently.
NAMA reiterates its strong belief that as the two nations share a long history of mutual friendship and long line of boundary, it is wise to strengthen intergovernmental and the peoples` relations.
The state visit by the President is therefore a good opportunity to capatilize on furthering the good relations between the two nations.
In line with this, Eritrea should reckon with our aspirations to make corrections to the age old anti Amhara narrative heeded so far and awfully by the TPLF led regime here in Ethiopia.
We all carry our history with us, each in our own way. So many people here still feel the scars inflicted in times of terror and dictatorship. For us, those times are not so very long ago. Only short time has passed since millions of Amharans were subjected to persecution and violence, their human rights trampled underfoot.
Hence, a call upon the Eritrean people and Government to have a positive out look about the struggle of the Amhara nation against the systemic attack and denigration perpetrated for decades now.
The Amhara people consider their mission as one to attain freedom and justice. It's a mission that never loses its relevance. We know it takes sacrifice and hard work to get back on the right track.
NAMA welcomes the president`s visit and wishes an enjoyable stay in our towns. In the mean time, we would like the moment to be one which strengthens the good relations between the Amhara and Eritrean people.
NAMA pledges to do its part in making these realized.
And, we 'd like to ask you all to raise your glasses.
We wish all the best,
And to the abiding friendship between the Amhara and Eritrean peoples.
The National Movement of Amhara(NAMA)
Addis Ababa, Shewa, Ethiopia!
