Addis Ababa, 24 October 2014 (WIC) – Ethiopia has been playing a pivotal in peace keeping mission globally, the Ethiopian International Peacekeeping Training Centre (EIPKTC) said.

A two-week conflict prevention course co-organized and offered by EIPKTC together with the government of Japan and UNDP was successfully completed yesterday.

Deputy Head of EIPKTC, Brigadier General Habtamu Tilahun, on the occasion said that Ethiopia has been achieving outstanding success in peacekeeping mission not only in Africa but also worldwide.

He added that the country will continue to share its rich experience in peacekeeping and other aspects of security and peace operations to ensure the well being of all people.

The training will provide good opportunity for solving the frequent conflicts and instability in East Africa region since it includes the East African countries, he pointed out.

The training will also help to build the capacity of trainees in preventing conflicts, he added.

Brigadier General Dutt William Garang from the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs of South Sudan, on his part said that Ethiopia has been discharging very constructive role in keeping peace and stability both at international and continental levels.

Extending its gratitude to the Ethiopian government for organizing the training, he pledged to apply the knowledge he acquired while returning to his country.

Kenji Yokota, Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of Japan expressed his satisfaction with the course content and successful completion of the training.

The interactive experiences and insights of the training will be meaningful for peace keeping operation activities in the East African region and the entire continent, he said.

He also reaffirmed Japan’s unwavering support to the EIPKTC and the continent’s peace and security based on the philosophy of Human Security.

The Japanese government and United Nation Development Program (UNDP) provided technical and financial support for the training.

Brigadier General Habtamu handed certificates of completion to participants of high ranking military officials drawn from Ethiopia, Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

The Ethiopian International Peacekeeping Training Centre was established in 2012 with a view to strengthening peacekeeping mission, it was noted.