Diplomatic Hub of Africa
As a founding
member of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, Ethiopia continuously
fought for the realization of the objectives of the OAU. It did its level best,
both covertly and overtly, to assist the countries under colonialism to gain
their independence.
Even when the
record in domestic policies was decidedly counter-productive, the policy and
practice towards Africa pursued by past Ethiopian governments were outstanding,
enabling the country to discharge its African responsibilities and to gain the
respect of our African brothers and sisters. Ethiopia all along steadfastly
championed the cause of Africa and Africans dating back to a time when it stood
virtually alone. There has never been a time when Ethiopian governments shied
away from taking up their responsibilities towards Africa. It can also be said
that there was hardly any occasion when Ethiopia was refused political and
diplomatic support from Africa when it was needed.
Ethiopia is the
seat of the African Union, the successor organization of the OAU. As the
Foreign Affairs and National Security Policy and Strategy clearly point out,
this naturally means that Ethiopia carries a special responsibility for the
organization. Certainly, Ethiopia fully subscribes to the AU's vision for an
integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa providing and representing a dynamic
force in the global arena. Ethiopia has been at the forefront of the efforts to
achieve this African vision and at no time has it shifted its attention away from
addressing the age-old problems that have bedeviled Africa for so long.
Host for
International Conferences & Events
Ethiopia is a
founding member of numerous international organizations which formulate laws
that affect inter-state relations and serve as forums to oversee respect for
the rules which govern international engagement. It is the conviction of
Ethiopia that international organizations play an irreplaceable role in
ensuring peace and the primacy of international law as well as in strengthening
cooperation between countries. It is these same organizations that have also
provided the forums in which Ethiopia has been playing by the rules in the
present globalized world. This is where Ethiopia, along with other countries in
similar conditions, takes into account the rules of the international game as
well as the interests of others.
Ethiopia's role in, and cooperation with, the United Nations is one pre-eminent element of the country's engagement with international organizations. Ethiopia is one of the only two African founding members of the United Nations Organization set up following the end of the Second World War; the other being Liberia. And ever since the creation of the UN, Ethiopia has been committed to the organization. The principle of collective security at the heart of the UN charter has particular significance for Ethiopia as this was seen as an improvement on the failed attempts of the League of Nations to bring world peace. The League of Nations of which Ethiopia was also a member was, of course, the organization that preceded the UN, and history remembers the failure of the League of Nations to live up to its obligations when Ethiopia was attacked by fascist Italy in the run-up to the Second World War. Emperor Haile Selassie's famous speech admonishing the League for its failure to assist Ethiopia was later to haunt many in the international community. This indeed was one of the major reasons behind the adoption of collective security and the cooperation that formed the basis of the UN charter.