Shimles further said federalism is a political system in which nations and nationalities live in harmony and lift out their country from crisis and enable them to form one political and economic community.

Shimelis made the remark while addressing a discussion organized by Lideta EPRDF League here in the capital on Sunday under a topic "What is the importance of Federalism in Ethiopia".

The system of federalism was formed in Ethiopia by about 20 armed political forces following the downfall of the Derg regime during the reign of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia.

Shimelis said there are so many reasons why Ethiopia chose federalism. For instance, he said, the system had enabled to avoid the civil strife that used to rock the country for so many years.

Thus, it was the system of federalism, which recognizes the equality of nations and nationalities that would only enable to lift out the country from endless civil wars. There was no other alternative, he added.

Shimelis said the structure of federalism has also the capacity to prevent cessation.

It there is a tendency of cessation on the part of some political forces, it would be possible to hold an extensive campaign on the importance of remaining unified rather than suppressing the question. This will make those political quarters to soften on their stance thereby withdraw from their question that was what happened in Quebec in Canada.

If the rights and benefits of all citizens are protected and ensured, Shimelis said there would not be a cessation threat.

He also recalled that the national constitution that formed the system of Federalism was endorsed by the public at large after being designed by steering commission through the involvement of civil societies including opposition parties, among others.

Shimelis also said the argument of opposition parties which strongly oppose federalism saying it had brought to the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and other eastern European countries was absolutely incorrect.

The federalism that was introduced in Ethiopia could not be compared with that of the former Soviet Union and other East European countries, he said. Shimelis said the federalism in those countries was under the rule of one political party and where there was no multi-party system.

“The federalism in these countries was pseudo federalism,” he added.

Federalism in Ethiopia on the other hand is supported with pluralism of political views.

It has helped establish strong bonds among nations and nationalities while enabling them for the non-existence of uneven relationship among them. This, he said, had protected the nation from being disintegrated.

Shimelis further said federalism had enabled the Ethiopian people to tackle the repression of nations and nationalities while helping rescue the nation from being disintegrated.

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