December 16, 2005

Speaker of the House of Federation, Hon.Degfe Bulla said wide-ranging activities would be carried out in the next five years to deepen the public understanding of the Federal Constitution.

The Speaker, Degfe Bulla, said awareness raising programme would be carried out extensively down to the grassroots level, as the activity carried out so far concerning the Constitution was not satisfactory.

He said the public bear responsibility to be acquainted with and respect the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land.

If there are any laws and regulations against the constitution, it is appropriate to bring these laws and regulations to the attention of House of the Federation through a legal channel instead of dismantling the Constitutional system by force, he said.

The public, therefore, should remain vigilant to safeguard the Constitution, he added.

Degfe said the House of the Federation would offer various training related to the Constitution, nations and nationalities and conflict resolution as well as budget utilization.

The Legal and Study Research Section under the House would organize and coordinate bodies that conduct various studies and researches on the Constitution, Degfe told EPRDF Organ Abiyotawi Democracy.

He said designing strategic means pertaining to the cause and resolution of conflicts and facilitating forums to foster unity of peoples are among the activities to be carried out in the years ahead.

The fact that most of the chiefs of states are members of the Budgetary Affairs Standing Committee, enable them to deliberate on the allocation deeply and be convinced of it before its adoption.

He said the current House of the Federation is unique from the previous ones for most of chiefs of states and speakers are its members and standing committees as well.

He said the presence of the chiefs and speakers in the House is advantageous to discuss and reach a consensus when conflicts arise among states.