In a statement it sent to Ethiopian News Agency on Tuesday the ministry said the emblem is designed in line with the emblem of the Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Council Secretariat.

It said the emblem was inaugurated on 28 June 2007 in the presence of local and foreign mass media.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya Disasa Dirbissa said the African Union and the UN General Council have already recognized the Ethiopian millennium.

The ambassador Disasa said the millennium is an opportunity to promote the positive image of the country to the rest of the world.

He said the millennium would also be an opportunity to synchronize the efforts of the public and the government towards ensuring sustainable economic growth in the country.

Ambassador Disasa said celebrating the millennium in Nairobi, Kenya would further enhance the age-long Ethio-Kenyan bilateral relations.

---END---