April 6, 2013 (All Africa) – The inaugural meeting of Meles Foundation opened this morning (April 6) at the African Union Hall. The meeting is attended by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn , President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti , President Omar Hassan Albeshir of Sudan, Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdi Farah Shirdon , AU Chairperson Dr. Dlamini Zuma ,former president of Nigeria Olesegun Obasanjo , Foreign Minister’s of Rwanda and Seychelles and other high level dignitaries.
In his opening address, Prime Minister Hailemariam remembered the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as “exemplary leader in his unique leadership skills and flawless performance as chief of the executive” and added that “the establishment of the Foundation is deemed necessary as a thorough study of his life and his works and their implementation thus far is important to ensure the continuity of the renaissance of Ethiopia.” Former First Lady, Azeb Mesfin, on the occasion noted that the Foundation will assist researchers interested to study Meles’s academic works through scholarships to ensure the continuity of the implementation of his vision.
Djibouti, 500,000$, Uganda $300,000, Sudan, $ 2.000,000 and South Sudan, 1,000.000 $ pledged to support the Foundation. Reflections on the life and works of the visionary leader the late Meles Zenawi was presented to the meeting by Professor Andreas Eshete, renowned scholar Alex De Waal and other dignitaries. The Meles Foundation is established in a proclamation recently passed by the House of Representatives to serve as a memorial of the prime minister’s great contribution in socio -economic issues, climate change negotiations and for his efforts aimed at ensuring peace and security of the continent among other things.
