8th session of the Forum on Minority Issues Ethiopia, Mr. Molla Belete Chekole Thank you, Mr Chairperson. I am taking this floor to give response to the political motivated accusation by (…) lies media. As pointed out in your remark this morning Mr Chairperson, this platform is meant for constructive dialogue. This is not a Forum to switch the topic to somebody’s political agenda. We respect and support the participation of any viewers in this forum. It is unfortunate that politically motivated organisations joined this forum in the name to distort this noble cause. Ethiopia is country of extraordinary cultural diversity, Ethiopia is a country over 80 nationalities and peoples, each maintaining its distinct, culture, language, traditional values and heritages. The Ethiopian Federal System is empowers ethnic linguistic religious minorities as the very foundation of its political structure based on the principle of equality of all nations and nationalities. The Ethiopian state is one of the nine members of (…) who have self-administered national state. Somali language is their official language. The people in the region are administered by their own people. The original state has the three branches of government, the parliament, the executive and the judiciary. The original state has been registering a significant economic and political development of the past two decades. The original state is hosting the highest number of refugees in the country. There are eight refugee camps in (..) along with humanitarian access and protection to those seeking protection in its territory. Currently, around 8,000 refugees from neighbouring countries are hosted in Ethiopia by sharing the meagre resources. Ethiopia is proud in dismantling terrorist organisations, including in (…) areas. Finally, we ask (…) the media from disseminating distorted information in to the Forum. I thank you, Mr Chairperson.