The Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) has largely fended off a billion-dollar compensation claim filed by a Turkish contractor over the Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya railway project, following a two-year international arbitration process in London.The contractor had sought USD 1 billion in damages, citing war-related disruptions and looting during the construction of the railway line. In response, the ERC appointed prominent legal scholar Professor Tilahun Teshome as its advisor and assembled a legal team, including its in-house legal department, to defend the case.Professor Tilahun, representing Ethiopia in the arbitration, a rare occurrence for Ethiopian professionals in such forums, submitted hundreds of pages of legal arguments, backed by documentary and human evidence. The Turkish company reportedly submitted over 800 documents and filed multiple lawsuits as part of its claim.According to sources familiar with the case, the arbitration tribunal rejected most of the compensation demands and ruled that Ethiopia should be reimbursed for dollar payments made before work began.The outcome is seen as a significant legal victory for Ethiopia, helping the country avoid a potentially devastating financial liability and highlighting the emergence of capable local experts in the international legal arena. (ICE ADDIS ABEBA)

Fonte notizia: Sheger FM 102.1 & 2Merkato.com