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Kinijit leaders at their hotel in Downtown Washington DC pose for photo with Ato Aklog Lemeneh and his Kinijit North America leadership team that sponsored and financed the leaders’ USA tour. [photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
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Kinijit leaders at their hotel in Downtown Washington DC posing for photo with officials of the former Kinijit International Leadership. L to R Dr Berhanu Nega, Ato Gizachew Shiferraw, Ato Brook Kebede, Judge Bertukan Mideksa, Dr Hailu Araya; back L to R Ato Berhane Mewa, Dr Gebreye Wolde-Rufael, Ato Daniel Assefa, Dr Moges Gebre-Mariam [photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
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Kinijit leaders at their hotel in Downtown Washington DC posing for photo with officials of the Kinijit Washington DC Metro Chapter [photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
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Ethiopia’s lady liberty Bertukan Mideksa and Addis Ababa Mayor-elect Berhanu Nega at Dulles Airport this morning [photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
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Kinijit Vice President Bertukan Mideksa’s arrival at Dulles Airport [photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
12:45 PM
Members of the Kinijit delegation that arrived in Washington are now resting in their hotel after spending some time greeting Kinijit representatives from several chapters. Ato Aklog Lemeneh, chairman of the Kinijit North America chapters and Ato Yilma Adamu, Kinijit DC Metro chapter chairman introduced the representatives to Wzt. Bertukan and the other members of the delegation. Then they posed for photos (will be posted shortly). Tonight the delegates are scheduled to attend a small dinner reception organized by members of the welcoming team Ato Tamagne Beyene, Dr Alemayehu Gebremariam, and Dr Solomon Alemu, in collaboration with Kinijit North America and Kinijit DC Metro. After holding a series of meetings with officials of Kinijit North America chapters throughout the week, the next major public appearance for the delegates will be a town hall meeting next weekend. It is expected to be the largest Ethiopian gathering ever in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. More photos and video later on…
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Addis Ababa Mayor-elect Dr Berhanu Nega at Dulles Airport this morning [photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
12:15 PM
Kinijit Secretary General Ato Muluneh Eyoel and his delegation have left the London Heathrow Airport and they are now on their way to their hotel accompanied by Ato Andargachew Tsige and hundreds of Ethiopians who welcomed them. The love and affection shown to the delegates is impossible to describe. It is truly a memorable experience. It is a demonstration that Kinijit has won the hearts and minds of Ethiopians of all walks of life…
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Kinijit Secretary General Muluneh Eyoel (center) with r. to l. Dr Yacob Haile-Mariam, Ato Abayneh Berhanu, Ato Kifle Tigneh and Ato Aschalew Ketama at the London Heathrow Airport [photo by Kinijit UK]
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
11:30 AM EST
Ato Muluneh Eyoel and the second Kinijit delegation is now being greeted by hundreds of Ethiopian at the Heathrow Airport in London. The crowd is chanting, singing and whistling. It is an emotional scene. Ato Muluneh, Dr Yacob Hailemariam, Ato Abaineh Berhanu, Ato Kifle Tigneh and Ato Aschalew Ketema are receiving a heroes’ welcome by Ethiopians in London. The feeling being expressed by the people is just awesome…
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
10:50 AM EST
Kinijit Vice President Bertukan and her delegation, Dr Hailu Araya, Ato Gizachew Shiferraw, Dr Berhanu Nega and Ato Brook Kebede, are now approaching their hotel in Downtown DC. Hundreds of cars adorning Ethiopian flag are following them. When they arrive at the hotel, there will be a photo session with representatives of Kinijit from several cities, as well as Ethiopian community leaders in the Washington DC area. Dulles Airport is still crowded with Ethiopians who are now existing. Earlier it was an amazing scene — the airport was completely overtaken by Ethiopians. It was impossible to control the crowd, so the police decided to take the Kinijit leaders to their limousines through a side door. Kinijit is indeed a people’s party…
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
10:28 AM EST
Another delegation of Kinijit leaders headed by Secretary General Muluneh Eyoel and including Ato Abayneh Berhanu, Dr Yacob Hailemariam, Ato Kifle Tigneh and Ato Aschalew Ketema has arrived at the London Heathrow airport now. Ato Andargachew Tsige and other Kinijit officials as well as hundreds of Ethiopians are waiting to welcome them at the airport…
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
10:04 AM EST
Now the Kinijit leaders have entered their limousines and are heading toward their hotel in Downtown Washington DC. There is motorcade of hundreds of cars following them. Ato Aklog Lemeneh, chairman of Kinijit North America chapters, told Ethiopian Review that the leaders will not make a public appearance for a couple of days, but will have a series of meetings with representatives of Kinijit chapters through out the U.S. today and in the coming few days. They are also scheduled to meet with members of the U.S. Congress and other U.S. Government officials…
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
9:45 AM EST
There are now over 5,000 (by some estimate more) Ethiopians at Dulles Airport welcoming Kinijit leaders. The police and the organizers are unable to control the crowd, so the delegates had to return to the waiting area until things settle down. The crowed is too emotional and it is becoming unsafe for the leaders to pass through. The love the people are showing the Kinijit leaders is amazing. It has been a while since Ethiopia has political leaders who are loved by the people this way…
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
9:30 AM EST
It is an incredible scene! The Kinijit leaders are now being greeted by their supporters. There is a lot of emotion. Some are crying, others are shouting. The airport terminal is overwhelmed by the size of the crowed. Several limousines are waiting the delegates outside…
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
8:45 AM EST – Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia (about 90km from Downtown Washington DC) is being swamped by Ethiopians carrying flags. Right now there are already over 1,000 people. They are awaiting the arrival of Kinijit leaders. ER contributor Teddy Mekbeb has just pulled in the parking lot. He said that he has seen several cars with Ethiopian flags on the freeway heading to the airport…
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[photo by Tewodros Mekebeb]
8:30 AM EST – Close to a thousand Ethiopians are currently awaiting Kinijit vice president Bertukan Mideksa and her delegation of high level Kinijit leaders at the Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia. The Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying Wzt. Bertukan, Dr Hailu Araya, Ato Gizachew Shiferraw, and Ato Brook Kebede is scheduled to arrive at 8:30 AM…