Ethiopia, Russia are poised to boost their arts, cultural relations: Minister

Addis Ababa, November 20, 2022 (FBC) – Minister of Ministry of Culture, Kejela Merdassa said that Ethiopia and Russia have fertile ground to boost their ties in the fields of arts and culture. 

The Minister welcomed a Russian Folk Ensemble which comprises a quintet of soloists and merited artist Olesya Evstigneeva. The ensemble performed a concert at the Russian Embassy in Addis Ababa in attendance of government officials and representatives of various segments of the community.

In his welcoming speech, Kejela Merdassa said the foundation of the relationship between Ethiopia and Russia was laid at the end of the 19th century.

The longstanding relationship between the two countries is based on social, economic, religious, cultural and diplomatic relations, he added.

Russia stood with Ethiopia during the battle of Adwa in 1896 against the invading forces of Italy and it was one of the only five countries which opposed the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1935. 

The ties between the government and people of Russia, regardless of regime changes in Ethiopia, has remained intact, he said.

Currently, there is a visible cooperation between the two countries in the fields of technology, culture, science, and education.

“I believe that Russia and Ethiopia are poised to foster their mutual cooperation in the areas of art and culture, and such events are instrumental in enhancing cultural relations and people to people ties between the two countries” he said, referring to the concert.

The concert which was organized in commemoration of the Russian National Day is aimed to boost people to people relations and cultural ties between Africa and Russia Evgeny Terekhin, Ambassador of Russia to Ethiopia, stated. The Group has so far staged a concert in Zambia and Tanzania.