Efforts underway to establish national reserve force: Minister

Addis Ababa, January 27(ENA)-- The Minister of Defense says along with building a strong regular army efforts are underway to establish a national reserve force.

Abadula Gemeda said in addition to defending the sovereignty of the country the reserve force would actively participate in the development activities and provide emergency support at times when the country is affected by natural and manmade disasters.

Abadula made the remarks while presenting the Ministry's performance report to Foreign, Defense and Security Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples' Representatives here on Monday.

The reserve force would be organized in line with the economic capacity of the country and in such a way that it would not affect the nation's finance and other resources allocated to the development efforts, the Minister said.

Relevant studies are being conducted to organize the reserve force in light of the stated facts, according to Abadula.

He said the studies would enable to lay the ground for the establishment of economical but effective national reserve force and to create a grerat sense of responsibility among the public in defending the nation's sovereignty.

A National Reserve Force Organization and Coordination Office has been established under the auspices of the Ministry to supervise the execution of the studies, the Minister said.

Draft proclamations, which are based on the objective reality of the country and that take into account the experiences of other nations, would be issued this year to set up the reserve force, Abadula said.

The Minister also indicated that a study was underway to make the organization of the Ministry more effective using less finance and manpower.

The Ministry was exerting utmost efforts to preserve the sovereignty of the country, ensure the provisions of the constitution as well as the security of the public at large, Abadula said.

Activities aimed at improving and changing the living standard of members of the army were also in full swing, the Minister said.

Due attention has also been given to upgrade the services of the defense industries and forge favorable conditions where they could grow in harmony with other organs of the Ministry.

He said the Ethiopian defense force has been fully cooperating and is extending the necessary support to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)

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