Ethiopia–Poland relations

Ethiopia–Poland relations refer to the diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Poland. Relations between the two countries dates back to November 1930, during the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie. Subsequently, the Polish chargé d'affaires arrived from Cairo to Addis Ababa to establish relations. In 1934, the two nations signed the Treaty of Friendship, Trade, and Settlement; however, it did not come into effect due to the Italian invasion of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia–Poland relations
Map indicating locations of Ethiopia and Poland

Ethiopia
Poland
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Ethiopia, BerlinEmbassy of Poland, Addis Ababa
Envoy
Ambassador of Ethiopia in Poland Mulu SolomonAmbassador of Poland in Ethiopia Przemysław Bobak

In September 1963, diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Poland were reestablished when Emperor Haile Selassie paid an official visit to Poland. During the visit, the Emperor was honored with the Order of Polonia Restituta and signed two important treaties: one on Cultural Cooperation and the other on Scientific and Technical Cooperation. Following the Ethiopian Revolution and the rise of the communist Derg to power in 1974, the two countries continued to maintain cordial relations and entered into several agreements on trade, aviation, loans, culture, and media. Additionally, many Ethiopian scholars visited Poland during this period.

In May 2017, Polish President Andrzej Duda made history with the first visit by a Polish leader to Ethiopia, marking the first visit by a Sub-Saharan African country. In turn, Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome reciprocated the gesture one year later in April 2018 with the first official visit by an Ethiopian president to Poland. The focus of the visit was to discuss opportunities for economic and political cooperation between the two nations. Despite the warm reception, Poland and Ethiopia have yet to fully develop economic ties, with Ethiopia ranking only as the 114th partner in foreign trade turnover with Poland as of 2020.[1]

History

Poland–Ethiopia relations started on the beginning of 1930s, when the first Polish chargé d'affares came from Cairo to Addis Ababa during the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie.[2][3] Shortly after, the Ethiopian envoy in Paris officially visited Poland for the first time. In 1934, the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Settlement (Polish: Traktat o Przyjazni, Handlu I Osadnictwie), however it went foiled by the Italian invasion occurred shortly after.[4][5]

In 1946, the Cairo legation of Ethiopia suggested renovation of the two diplomatic relations.[6] On 3 October 1947, Zygmunt Kuligowski, the Special Envoy and the Minister Plenipotentiary, presented his accreditation letters to Haile Selassie.[7] At this time the Ethiopian Envoy accreditation in Moscow got the letter in Warsaw. Between 1947 and 1960, the two relations were minimal with causal engagements. In 1960, the Polish Legation and the Office of Commercial Counselor began to operate in Addis Ababa.[8] One year later in 1961, Polish–Ethiopian diplomatic missions raised in Addis Ababa and Moscow to the rank of embassies.

Furthermore, it had since renovated advanced in September 1963 when the Emperor decorated with Grand Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland (Polonia Restituta), accompanied by signature of two treaties, on Cultural Cooperation, and on Scientific and Technical Cooperation during the visit. Poland also helped by providing subsidies for Ethiopian students and sent to Ethiopia experts on various fields. This was a time where Polish movies were set up in festival in Ethiopia.

Following the Ethiopian Revolution and the installation of the Derg to power in 1974, it was approved by the authorities of the Polish People's Republic. Since then, they strengthened their respective mutual visits by representatives and signed numerous accords on trade, aviation, loans, culture and media. During this time, a number of Ethiopian scholars in Poland increased significantly.

1989–present

At the end of 1992, the Polish Embassy in Ethiopia was shut down due to budget cuts as its duties were deputed to the Polish Embassy in Yemen. It reopened in mid-2003.[9] In May 2017, Polish President Andrzej Duda made official visit in Ethiopia, the first in Sub-Saharan Africa.[10][11] Together with the Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn held consultations on political and economic cooperation between the two countries.[12]

Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome met with Polish Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in April 2018

During the next visit at African Union forum, Poland assured to cooperate with African countries in the context of Poland membership in the United Nations Security Council. In April 2018, President Mulatu Teshome made a visited to Poland met with President Andrzej and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.[12] At this time, Polish and Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs consultation took place. Both representatives sat together in the UN Security Council. A letter of intent regarding academic cooperation was signed.

Economic relations

Economic relations between the two countries are relatively small. As of 2020, Ethiopia was 114th partner in foreign trade turnover, with exports from Poland reached 2,585 million USD, while the import from Ethiopia reached 1,088 million USD.[13]

Science field relations

During President Multatu's visit to Poland in 2018, both parties signed a letter of intent on the academic cooperation. In 2020, 26 Ethiopian students received Polish Lukasiewicz scholarship.[1][14]

References
  1. "Poland attractive for scientists from abroad". nawa.gov.pl. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  2. "News - MFA Ethiopia". mfa.gov.et. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  3. Committee, United States Congress Senate Appropriations (1930). First Deficiency Appropriation Bill for 1930, Hearings Before ... 71-2, on H.R. 9979.
  4. Matthews, M. Alice (1936). "Chronicle of International Events". The American Journal of International Law. 30 (1): 131–141. doi:10.1017/S0002930000054634. ISSN 0002-9300. JSTOR 2190574. S2CID 246005714.
  5. Daily Consular and Trade Reports. Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Manufactures. 1935.
  6. "January 29, 1977 Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (PDF). 8 October 2022.
  7. "ETHIOPIA POLAND - africa". doczz.net. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  8. "Europe Countries - MFA Ethiopia". 8 October 2022.
  9. Prijac, Lukian (2015). Foreign relations with Ethiopia: human and diplomatic history (from its origins to present) (in French). LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN 978-3-643-12658-0.
  10. "President: I recommend Ethiopian market". Oficjalna strona Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  11. "A Week in the Horn". Embassy of Ethiopia, London. 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  12. "President Mulatu on Official visit to Poland | Ethiopian News Agency". Ethiopian News Agency. April 24, 2018. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  13. "Ethiopia (ETH) and Poland (POL) Trade | OEC". OEC - The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  14. "26 Ethiopian students receive the 2020/21 Lukasiewicz Scholarship - Poland in Ethiopia - Gov.pl website". Poland in Ethiopia. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
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