7.1 International organizations

Ethiopia is a member of the U.N. and numerous other international organizations. These organizations formulate the law as they affect inter-state relations and serve as forums that oversee the respect of the rules of international engagement. International organizations play an irreplaceable role in ensuring peace, the primacy of international law, and in strengthening the cooperation between countries. International organizations have been providing the forum where Ethiopia has been seeking to play by the rules in the world of globalization. It is here where we, with other countries in similar conditions, should work so that the rules of the game also take our interests into account. The UN and its specialized agencies, and institutions like the World Bank provide important assistance to Ethiopia's development. That is why Ethiopia should strengthen its cooperation with these institutions, to speed up development, protect national security, and work for peace and respect for international law. The presence in Ethiopia of the U.N Economic Commission for Africa as well as other U.N. institutions facilitates interaction; our policy of cooperation should take this into account.

7.2 International non-governmental organizations

There is no doubt that international NGO's are now playing a significant role in terms of providing development and humanitarian aid. Their role may be limited but, in Ethiopia, the contribution they make is substantial. NGO's like OXFAM have gone even further and engage themselves prominently in reducing the negative aspect of globalization on poorer countries like ours. They have taken active part as allies of poorer countries in campaigns demanding the cancellation of debts and calling for reform of the world trading system in favor of the position of poorer countries.

We understand that we have to be in constant readiness to work closely with these organizations on matters of consensus. We should also be prepared to work in partnership with these NGO's to ensure greater assistance and effective utilization of the aid they provide. We should support the initiatives they undertake to promote the collective interest of the under developed world. We should also work towards the adoption and implementation of a policy that encourages a joint meeting with them where we can present to them the vision we hold with respect to the development and democratization of our country and exchange notes on relevant issues. Moreover, the policy we pursue should encourage tolerance in the event of differences and readiness to concentrate on matters of consensus.

Proceeding from this, we need to step up our cooperation with these organizations to tackle matters on which we agree. Urging them to step up their support, we should coordinate with them to achieve better results in the delivery of their development assistance. We should support to the appropriate degree their activities favorable to undeveloped countries. We should carry out a policy that allows us to work closely with them in areas of mutual agreement, and to seek to narrow differences when they arise. We also need to learn form them on the presentational aspects of our vision for development and democracy.