Meles also urged the public in the city to stand with the side of the government in finding solutions for the problems.

The Premier made the statement during a consultative meeting of the metropolitan women and residents forum held at the millennium park hall on Friday.

Meles during the consultative meeting answered questions raised from the participants, drawn from 99 kebeles of the metropolis, on social, economic, good governance and other sectors.

Concerning the rising cost of living, Meles said the government has been taking various measures aimed at stabilizing the price hike particularly by supplying some commodities to low income sections of the society.

Efforts are also being made with a view to controlling those who are trying to aggravate the price hike with the intent of increasing their profit, he said and noted that improving the productivity of the farmers is the lasting solution to bring the price hike down.

The Premier also urged the public to establish consumers association, and added that the government would provide the necessary support for such efforts.

Despite various efforts being made to address the problem of unemployment in the metropolis, Meles said limitations are being witnessed in implementing the efforts.

The housing development and micro and small scale businesses are among the major sectors that are addressing the problem of unemployment, he added.

Meles further said that improving economic efforts is the only solution to stop the migration of people from rural areas to Addis Ababa.

Several people are engaged in selling urban land illegally, Meles said and added that the government has also attached due attention to curb the problem.

The Premier also called on women and youth forums in the metropolis to actively take part in implementing the women and youth development packages.

Concerning transportation problem in the city, the premier said that 500 medium size public transport buses are expected to be imported over the coming two months.

Meles also indicated that studies are underway to introduce urban train transportation system in all directions of the city.

In the housing development sector, the government has attached due attention for the construction of condominium houses, he said.

Concerning the HR 2003 bill, the Premier said that the bill will be hardly passed by the U.S senate since it is problematic by its nature and negatively affect the Ethio-U.S relation which was based on mutual respect.

The Eritrean government has declared a proxy war against Ethiopia, he said and noted that it would have been important to hold dialogues on ways of bringing good neighborhood by resolving the current stalemate.

Ethiopia, along with combating the proxy war declared by the Eritrean government, would enhance its efforts of finding peaceful solutions for the problem through dialogue.

Close to 7,000 participants attended the meeting.

R-6:00-7:25 Pm

E-7:25-7:57

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