Ambassador Girma Birru, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United States of America presented his credentials at an official ceremony held at the State Department today Thursday January 6, 2011.

Ambassador Girma Birru, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United States of America presented his credentials at an official ceremony held at the State Department today Thursday January 6, 2011.

Ambassador Girma Birru, presented his letter of appointment as Ethiopia’s Special Envoy to America to His Excellency MR .James B. Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State. With this formality, Ambassador Girma Birru has officially begun his duties as Ethiopia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the U.S..

During the occasion Mr. James B. Steinberg expressed his appreciation for the intensity of the Ethio-US partnership. The Deputy State Secretary, underscored the significance of bilateral partnership of the two friendly countries in combating international terrorism and in the maintenance of peace and security in the Greater Horn of Africa Region..

Mr. James B. Steinberg further underlined the positive role that Ethiopia is currently playing to safeguard peace and stability in different parts of the African continent by deploying its peace keeping forces..

While submitting his letter of accreditation, Ambassador Girma Birru, on his part apprised the Deputy State Secretary of the bold and deep going Growth and Transformation Strategy that Ethiopia has at present decisively anchored on and expressed his belief that America will continue to support Ethiopia in its resolve to mitigate poverty and backwardness.

The Special Envoy emphasized the close cooperation of both countries in the areas of peace and security and reiterated his strong belief that Ethiopia will continue to strive to further consolidate, enhance and bolster the mutually beneficial bilateral ties to a yet higher level and wider scope of partnership.

Before his appointment to Washington, Ambassador Girma, had served his country in various high level and multi-faceted areas of government positions; the latest portfolio being as the Minister of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia.