1. The 64th commemorative ceremony of the send-off of Ethiopian soldiers to the Korean War took place at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Park in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on April 25. The event brought together President Mulatu Teshome of Ethiopia, Ambassador Kim Moon-hwan of the Republic of Korea to the country, Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War and Military Attaches to Ethiopia from countries that had fought alongside the ROK in the war.

◦ Ethiopia is the only African country that dispatched ground troops to the ROK to fight alongside it in the Korean War. Out of its 6,037 soldiers, 122 were killed with another 536 wounded.

- The commemorative event is held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa every April to mark the send-off on April 12, 1951, of Imperial Bodyguards of then Emperor Haile Selasie to the ROK to fight in the Korean War.

2. In particular, President Mulatu, who had visited the ROK for the seventh World Water Forum earlier in April, attended the commemorative ceremony, becoming the first Ethiopian President to do so. His presence at the event demonstrated the stronger-than-ever friendship between the ROK and Ethiopia.

◦ In his celebratory remarks at the event, President Mulatu brought renewed attention to the ROK government’s expression of appreciation toward the government and the Korean War veterans of Ethiopia during his recent visit to the ROK. He went on to comment that thanks to the sacrifice of the veterans who had fought to safeguard freedom and peace, “the friendship between the two countries is forged in blood.”

3. President Melesse Tessema of the Ethiopian Korea War Veterans Association, in his commemorative remarks, recalled his participation in the Korean War 64 years before to safeguard world peace under orders from then Emperor Haile Selasie. The President said, citing the famous quote -- “Old soldiers never die” -- Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War will continue to devote themselves to serving their homeland.

4. In his commemorative remarks, the ROK’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Kim Moon-hwan, on behalf of the ROK government and people, extended appreciation to the Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War for their role in defending freedom and democracy of the Republic of Korea 64 years before. In addition, he underscored the ROK’s willingness to maintain close bilateral relations across the board down the road.

◦ The Ambassador also pledged to continue assistance programs for Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War and their descendents.

* After the ceremony, Ambassador Kim hosted a commemorative luncheon for 100-odd veterans, Ambassadors and Military Attaches to Ethiopia from countries that had fought for the ROK in the Korean War and leaders of the local Korean community.

5. The ROK and Ethiopia have maintained their close friendship and cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1963. Going forward, the ROK government will seek closer cooperation with Ethiopia in various sectors, including political and social affairs, economy and culture.


* unofficial translation