A Week in the Horn (Feb 06,2009)

· The 12^th Ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union opened in Addis Ababa on Sunday February 1st with a special session, chaired by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, to consider the report of the AU Commission, on “The Implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh Assembly Decision on the Union Government". It should be recalled that the Committee of Twelve Heads of State and Government was mandated by the Accra Summit to consider the issue of Union Government and submit appropriate recommendations to the 11th Assembly Session at Sharm el-Sheikh. Their report was submitted last July and its recommendations were endorsed by the Assembly which requested the African Union Commission to "work out, the modalities and details for the implementation of the recommendations”, including a road map, and submit its proposals to this 12

The Commission’s report, however, was not in line with the instructions given by the Assembly at Sharm el-Sheikh. The Assembly criticized the content of the report, focusing specifically on the frequent references to “Union Government”. The Assembly made it clear that all such references should be removed as the AU was not in the process of making a government. Eventually a consensus was reached on transferring the Commission into an Authority, and changing the designation of the Commission Chairperson to that of President, and of his deputies to Vice-Presidents, with the Commissioners becoming Secretaries. Most of the debate which went on into the early hours of the next morning was focused on this issue. Finally, the Assembly authorized the Commission to prepare a document with details as to how these decisions should be implemented. This document was presented to the Executive Council, but the ministers found themselves unable to accept it. The problem arose over whether transformation of the AU Commission into an AU Authority required amendment of the Constitutive Act or not. Despite a ruling from Legal Counsel, the ministers were clear that the provisions of article 32 of the Act insist that this change does require amendment of the Constitutive Act. The Executive Council then submitted its recommendations to the Assembly, including acceptance of the change from Commission to Authority, of AU Commissioner to President, of his deputies to Vice-Presidents and of the Commissioners to Secretaries. The Executive Council noted the necessity for further study with reference to the functions and size of the AU Authority, the functions of the Secretaries, and the financial implications of establishing such an Authority. The Assembly decided that an extraordinary session of the Executive Council will be convened within the next three months to consider these issues and submit a report to the next Assembly in June/July.

The theme of this year's Summit was “Infrastructure Development in Africa”, with emphasis on transport and energy sectors. The President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry gave keynote presentations. During the debate, delegates expressed their concern over the enormity of the gaps in transport and energy infrastructure in Africa and the huge financial needs for these; the high costs of energy and transport services in Africa, seriously affecting the competitiveness of the continent; the constraints on inter-state transit in Africa, and in particular the proliferation and complexity of cross-border procedures; the slow pace of implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision on the liberalization of access to air transport markets in Africa; the poor resource mobilization for infrastructure projects; and the impact of the global financial crisis on infrastructure development in Africa. During the discussion the representative of the World Bank noted that three countries, namely, DR Congo, Ethiopia and the Republic of Guinea, had 70 per cent of Africa's hydroelectric potential.

The Summit agreed that leadership, coordination, harmonization, facilitation and advocacy roles of the African Union Commission in building economic infrastructure for Africa's development are indispensable. It underlined the decisive role that Regional Economic Communities and specialized institutions must play in the implementation of the programs for development of transport and energy. It noted the necessary role of the private sector in the development of transport and energy infrastructure in Africa. The Assembly resolved to take all appropriate measures to complete the missing links in the major transport corridors. It requested the removal of all barriers, physical and non-physical, to the development of inter-state transport as well as the creation of appropriate institutional, legal and regulatory reforms to assist private sector investment in infrastructure development.

The Assembly heard the report of the Peace and Security Council of the Union on its activities and on the state of peace and security in Africa. It welcomed the efforts deployed to promote peace, security and stability and the progress made towards the operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture, with particular respect to the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and the African Standby Force (ASF). It encouraged all parties to redouble their efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts and consolidate peace. In this respect the Assembly welcomed progress made in the political process in Somalia, particularly the Djibouti Agreement and the Agreement on the Modalities for the Cessation of Armed Confrontation, as well as the decision to establish an inclusive and expanded parliament and a Unity Government. It encouraged the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) to continue with their efforts, and urged all Somali stakeholders to commit themselves to dialogue and the peace process. The Assembly strongly condemned those elements seeking to undermine the peace efforts, as well as peace and stability in the region as a whole, and expressed its full support for the decision by IGAD, as endorsed by the Peace and Security Council to impose targeted sanctions on all those intent on undermining these efforts. The Assembly further welcomed the extension of the transitional period by two years and called on the international community to lend increased support to the TFG. It paid tribute to AMISOM and the troop contributing countries, Burundi and Uganda, for their commitment to peace and reconciliation in Somalia. It welcomed the adoption by the UN Security council on 16 January 2009, of its intent to establish a UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia, and urged the Security Council to urgently adopt a resolution authorizing the deployment of the envisaged peacekeeping operation. The newly elected president of Somalia expressed his gratitude to the African Union and to IGAD for their support in the effort to bring peace and stability in Somalia. He assured the Assembly of his readiness to form a Government of National Unity to represent all Somalis and he appealed to IGAD member states, especially, to continue their support. He assured the Assembly of the readiness of his Government to promote peace and security with neighboring countries and to fully cooperate in the fight against piracy.

The Assembly expressed its deep concern over the resurgence of coups d’état in Africa. This was a serious setback to democratic processes, and a threat to the peace, security and stability of the continent. It called on member states to react firmly and unequivocally to put an end to this scourge. The Assembly supported the decisions taken by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) concerning Mauritania, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, particularly those related to the immediate return to constitutional order, and requested the Commission to see to their strict implementation. It also asked the Chairperson of the Commission to submit concrete recommendations relating to the implementation of appropriate preventive measures against unconstitutional changes of government.

The Assembly considered the application by the ICC prosecutor for the indictment of the President of the Republic of Sudan within the context of the peace and security situation in Africa. After an extensive debate, it unanimously expressed its deep concern at the indictment by the International Criminal Court, noting that it would seriously undermine the ongoing efforts aimed at facilitating the early resolution of the conflict in Darfur, and urged the United Nations Security Council, in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Rome Statute of the ICC, to defer the process initiated by the ICC. The Assembly condemned the gross violations of human rights in Darfur, and supported the decision by the Peace and Security Council to establish a High-Level Panel of Eminent Personalities chaired by Thabo Mbeki to submit recommendations on how best the issues of accountability and combating impunity as well as reconciliation and healing could be effectively and comprehensively addressed.

The Assembly also considered the current international financial crisis and the economic and social implications for Africa. In his keynote presentation, Prime Minister Meles suggested that although the worst of the recession might be overcome in a year or two, the global economy was likely to be entering a protracted period of low growth and volatility while structural problems are addressed. The transition period is likely to depend on how fast new low-carbon and less resource-intensive paths of industrialization are established, and on how fast and successfully major industrialized countries and emerging markets adjust to the radically changing economic geography of the world. He thought the coming decade is therefore likely to be a period of structural transformation with all the associated pain of transition. In the case of Africa this will be made worse by the prospects of global warming. He called for fair representation for Africa in the up-coming global discussions, and for continental unity in the resolution of these issues.

The Summit noted that the current international financial crisis would continue to slow down global demand for basic commodities, reduce the volume of capital flows towards Africa and affect the competitiveness of African economies. It expressed its concern that the crisis would slow economic growth, worsen balance of payments, aggravate budget deficits and weaken the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

As suggested by Prime Minister Meles, the Assembly called for an in-depth reform of the global financial system to fully integrate the voice of Africa. Africa should be fully represented in deliberations on the financial crisis including in the G20 framework. It called for a real voice to be given to Africa in the reform of the international financial institutions aimed at better management of economic shocks and ensuring predictability of resource flows and the effectiveness of aid. The Assembly emphasized the need to remove outdated conditionalities on aid and to ensure objectivity and transparency in resource flows from international financial institutions to Africa. It hoped the current global financial crisis would not be used as an excuse to cut development assistance. Ir requested that developed countries give no less attention to the needs of African countries than they have given to their own financial institutions in this crisis.

The Assembly urged that the global carbon trading mechanisms that are expected to emerge from international negotiations on climate change should give Africa its opportunity to demand and get compensation for the damage to its economy caused by global warming. Africa is contributing virtually nothing to global warming but has been one of the primary victims of its consequences. In these areas, the Assembly decided Africa should be represented by a single delegation empowered to negotiate on behalf of all member States with the mandate to ensure that resource flows to Africa are not reduced. The Commission was mandated to work on the details of such representation and to report to the next Summit.

As expected, the Assembly elected Colonel Gadafi, Leader of the Great Libyan Socialist, Arab Jamahiriya as Chairman of the African Union, replacing Mr. Jakaya Kikwete. In his statement to the Assembly, Mr. Kikwete paid tribute to the Government and people of Ethiopia as follows for the “their wise decision to send troops to Somalia” which he described as an heroic decision which had helped Somalia to continue as one nation and to produce the Government present at the Assembly. Mr. Kikwete also congratulated Ethiopia for its equally “wise decision to pull out their force after [its] immense contribution".

In an associated meeting, the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) met on 31 January on the eve of the Summit with Prime Minster Meles in the chair. The meeting expressed concern over the long-drawn process integrating NEPAD into the structures and processes of the African Union as decided at the 2003 Maputo AU Assembly. It welcomed the commencement of the study on the structure and profile of the new NEPAD Authority and on AU/NEPAD Integration with the appointment of a consultant in December 2008. The Summit agreed that the whole process of integration of NEPAD into the AU structures and processes should be completed prior to the next 13th AU Assembly in June/July this year. It called upon all AU Member States who have to submit comments on the structure and profile of the NEPAD Authority to the AU Commission to do so as soon as possible. The NEPAD Implementation committee welcomed the signing, last October, of the Host Agreement between the Government of South Africa and the AU commission providing for the legal status of the NEPAD Secretariat as an international organization in South Africa. The AU Commission Chairperson, Dr. Jean Ping, announced the appointment of Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Mayaki of the Republic of Niger as the new Chief Executive Officer for the NEPAD Secretariat. He will be responsible for leading the transformation of the NEPAD Secretariat into the new NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Authority. The Summit urged the NEPAD Secretariat to continue to evolve strategies for resource mobilization for effective program implementation. The HSGIC agreed on the need for continued interaction and engagement with the G8 and OECD Countries. It underscored the strengthening of the partnership through the institutionalization of the Follow-up Mechanism between Africa's representation and Development Partners as agreed at the 2008 G8 Summit in Japan. This mechanism will effectively promote mutual accountability in the new relationship being built between African and international partners. The APRM Forum also met the same day under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Meles, to consider the progress reports of some of the countries that have already been evaluated, including Algeria, Kenya and South Africa.

The Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) has announced plans to improve the livelihoods of women and protect them from the scourge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Addressing the OAFLA meeting on Sunday as the newly elected president of the organization, Ethiopia’s First Lady Azeb Mesfin called for a greater political role for women to shore up their influence in the war against the threats of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis on the continent. She said the marginalization of women from mainstream politics denied them the power to make an impact on social and economic development of African women. Winning the battle against poverty would require women to have access to decision-making, she said, adding African women must be free to make choices to reduce HIV/AIDS and live in a world free of violence “where safety is real and where opportunities are boundless”. The role of the African First Ladies, the president said, particularly at this juncture when global economy is in recession, has become more critical in upholding the rights and privileges of women. Speaking at the OAFLA conference, UNAIDS Ethiopia Country Director, Dr. Meskerem Gunitzy Bekele said that 60 per cent of the infected and affected in Africa are women and children. The First Ladies, as high profile advocates, must contribute to an effective response to this scourge. The OAFLA conference called for improved internal control of the resources of the organization and the adoption of broad strategies to fight HIV and AIDS. Earlier OAFLA’s technical advisors met to deliberate on a Strategic Plan for 2009-2013.

The prime minister’s statement primarily focused on the dark prospects that lay ahead of Africa as a result of the worsening financial crisis as well as the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming. Indeed, the prime minister emphasized that the magnitude and severity of the problems facing Africa as a result of the twin challenges of the current financial crisis and global warming are such that business as usual is unacceptable. The Prime Minister’s statement also identified what analysts in the area suggest are the causes of the unprecedented global crisis. To begin with, the Western path of industrialization which is characterized by the intensive use of resources, particularly carbon based ones, has taken its toll with resources proving insufficient to sustain growth any longer. Second, the crisis is also the reflection of structural imbalances associated with the rapid and fast-paced industrialization of major emerging economies such as China and India. The statement indicated that the economically unsustainable path the West has followed so far, coupled with the colossal use of such resources by emerging economies that appear to have followed in the footsteps of the west, has, according to the Prime Minister, proved a dead end. Apart from the adverse environmental impact of this resource-intensive and carbon-based industrialization, the Prime Minister also indicated that the current turmoil is unlikely to end until a new technological base for sustainable industrialization is firmly established.

The statement further highlights how structural imbalances in savings and consumption associated with the fast growth in emerging economies have contributed to the crisis. With countries like China, India and oil rich nations accumulating massive savings, and the developed countries consuming well beyond their means by borrowing these savings, these imbalances—unless reduced and managed in one form or another—will further escalate the turmoil, the Prime Minister pointed out in his address. As he clearly put it, the current economic turmoil is unlikely to be a one year phenomenon, and the global economy is likely to enter a protracted period of low growth and volatility. He also pointed out that addressing the structural problems will depend on how fast new low carbon and less resource intensive paths of industrialization are established and how successfully the major industrialized countries and emerging markets adjust to the radically changing economic geography of the world.

The Prime Minister also warned that the fate of countries and continents is likely to be determined by how well and how fast they adjust to the transition and unavoidable structural transformation. In all likelihood, the PM argued, those who have the financial and technological resources to adjust, and the leadership with the insight and implementation capability will likely succeed; and those who lack these resources and capabilities are likely to suffer and may even fail to adjust. This is where Africa comes front and center in the context of the current global crisis. According to the Prime Minister, the crisis in the case of Africa is made even worse by the unavoidable prospects of global warming, which, will cause the world to be hotter by at least 2 degree Celsius—irrespective of what steps may be taken in the future and no matter how effective these steps might be. The Prime Minister warned that global warming will inevitably cause enormous negative consequences for African economies, the unavoidable conclusion being that the coming decade will likely be very dark indeed for Africa both because of the unfolding economic turmoil in the global economy on the one hand, and global warming, on the other.

Reflecting on the last two decades in which Africa either failed to register no growth at all, or as in the 1990s it barely managed to take any significant advantage of what otherwise was a decade of prosperity, the Prime Minister argued that there is little to suggest that Africa could fare any better in mitigating the dire consequences likely to emanate from the twin challenges that it is facing today and will continue to face in the decades to come. He also stressed that Africa’s efforts at ensuring sustainable economic growth in the past have largely failed due to a host of reasons ranging from low price of commodity exports and huge external debts to lack of leadership capability equal to the challenge. More importantly, African countries have largely lacked policy autonomy, being dependent, as they have largely been, to the dogmatic conditionalities of the very international institutions that provide what little there is by way of development aid. Despite the attempts of African countries to re-assert policy autonomy more particularly after the unveiling of NEPAD, the Prime Minister remarked, the problem is far from resolved yet, with the financial institutions still unwilling to let go of their often dogmatic and arbitrary conditionalities. Many countries still depend on commodity exports and foreign aid. As the Prime Minister demonstrated in his remarks, the fact that Africa has neither the financial resources or the technological capabilities, nor the leadership capabilities required to address the twin challenges mentioned above makes its prospects all the more grim than that of the rest of the world. Even worse, the fact that it has not yet attained full policy autonomy would make it far more vulnerable to the disastrous consequences of the crises.

As Prime Minister Meles reiterated during his remarks, “our economic prospects are such that unless we act, and act now and decisively, the majority of African states will be failed or failing states over the coming decade.” This is no idle conjecture, but a real possibility that requires serious and practical steps immediately. Today, literally dozens of African countries are going through one crisis or another, and many teetering on the brink of absolute failure, with poverty and conflict traps, the current global crisis is very likely to worsen the situation throughout the continent. The bottom line is this: far from being business as usual, this is indeed a moment when all parties rethink the ways they have done business before. As Prime Minister Meles made it clear in his remarks, it is only fitting and proper that any such process take stock of the various structural and institutional factors that have so far too often played havoc with the success of similar endeavors African countries may have previously experimented with.

On the part of Africa, this means that governments have to redouble their efforts if they are going to stand a chance of weathering the catastrophic consequences of the unfolding global crisis. At individual level, states need to further enhance their efforts to develop leadership capabilities and embark upon a course of total dedication for economic transformation. There are also steps that need to be taken collectively by Africans through their continental body, namely the AU. The further reinvigoration of the AU organs and the close cooperation among members that such organs help facilitate offers a great opportunity for Africans to push through agendas that promote their economic interests in multilateral negotiations that can affect the future of their economies. One notable example mentioned in the Prime Minister’s statement is the negotiations on climate change that will soon be launched under the auspices of the United Nations. Africans can and must exert a vigorous effort to have their voice heard preferably through the AU speaking in the name and on behalf of all Africans. This will enable Africans to drive a hard bargain and squeeze concessions from the arrangements that will eventually come out of such negotiations. The Addis Ababa declaration has affirmed the significance of such a unified position by responding to Prime Minister Meles call for such a resolution. The resolution is indeed a historic one in light of the fact that it represents one solid move on the part of Africans to work towards union through the promotion of common interests. As the Prime Minister’s remarks indicated, this will enable Africa not only to get representation in negotiations, but also to participate fully and transparently in all negotiations that will decidedly have a far reaching impact on the future of its economies.

On the part of the international community and more particularly the international financial institutions and developed nations, there are numerous steps and reforms that need to be undertaken in order to address the current global crisis and the effects of global warming. Not only should financial institutions be able to better manage economic shocks, their procedures should also be reformed in a manner that enhances predictability of resource flows, according to Prime Minister Meles. Equally important, these institutions must be willing to rethink the conditionalities imposed on African countries based more on theological assumptions than empirical or historical evidence. Developed countries also should increase—not cut—development aid since the myth about the limits to their power to raise funds have been debunked thanks to their responses to the financial crisis that plagued their financial institutions. In this globalizing world, Africa, Prime Minister Meles reiterated, should at least be considered as important as a bank or two in a developed country.

Finally, Prime Minister Meles reassured his fellow African leaders that “if we can get our act together and bargain hard and well, we will get results.” It was also both historic and fitting that the leaders adopted a resolution that Africa will be represented by one delegation which will be empowered to negotiate on behalf of all member states. Historic not only because it will help ensure Africa’s voice gets heard, but also because it marks a meaningful step towards a real African Union such as Africans would want to see.

· As mentioned above, the new President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, attended the AU Summit this week, after being sworn in as President in Djibouti last Saturday. President Sheikh Sharif won the presidential election in the newly enlarged parliament in the second and final round of voting, getting 293 votes to win in a landslide over the son of the former President of Somalia, Maslah Siad Barre, who obtained 126 votes. At the swearing-in ceremony the new President expressed his readiness to work in collaboration with the neighboring countries of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. President Sheikh Sharif then flew to Addis Ababa to attend the 12th Assembly of the African Union where he and his delegation were greeted warmly on arrival at Bole international airport, and then welcomed by his fellow Heads of State and Government at the AU Summit.

Apart from attending the AU Summit, the Somali President held bilateral discussions with senior Ethiopian Government officials. In discussions with Prime Minister Meles, President Sheikh Sharif reiterated his readiness to work with Ethiopia to ensure stability and peace in Somalia. Prime Minister Meles, on his part, recalled that the failure of the state in Somalia had happened in 1991; at the same time there had been a change of government in Ethiopia. This had been an opportunity to change the entire region of the Horn for the better. It had not been taken, but he emphasized that Ethiopia, then and now, had always tried to assist Somalia to join the other states in the region in their endeavor to bring real and sustained development to the Horn. Prime Minister Meles stressed the readiness of Ethiopia to continue to assist Somalia and its new leadership to bring about peace and stability in Somalia and the region.

In a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Seyoum, the new Somali President spoke of the readiness of his government to deal with Ethiopia's legitimate security concerns and said he looked forward to better collaboration between Ethiopia and Somalia. Minister Seyoum said he saw two reasons for optimism now in Somalia. One was the readiness, indeed, eagerness of the Somali people to support the process for peace and reconciliation. The second was the readiness of the international community to speak with a united voice on the issue of Somalia. Here, Minister Seyoum noted, IGAD had laid a real foundation on which much could be built. He suggested the new President should do all he could to avoid internal divisions in his endeavor to advance the peace and reconciliation process, and should incorporate all elements, even those youth who have been manipulated by few individual extremists into violence.

At a press conference in Addis Ababa, President Sheikh Sharif called on Eritrea to refrain from engaging in subversive activities in Somalia and vowed to “work for the Somali people, not for others”. He urged the international community to continue to support the Somali peace process to help ensure peace and stability in Somalia. He called upon all parties in Somalia to participate in the formation of a National Unity Government, underlining how crucial the formation of a viable government was to combat piracy along the Somali coasts.

During his visit to Addis Ababa, President Sheikh Sharif held talks with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. On Monday, he also attended an informal IGAD summit chaired by Prime Minister Meles, current IGAD chair. Also present were President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, President Omar Hassan Ahmed El Bashir of Sudan and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, and the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Eng. Mahboub Maalim. President Sheikh Sharif, who was warmly welcomed to IGAD, briefed the IGAD members on the political, security and humanitarian challenges facing Somalia and outlined his Government’s priorities: building a joint Somali security force and working in close collaboration with AMISOM; establishing a Government of National Unity through a process of national reconciliation; developing peaceful and friendly relations with neighboring countries; mobilizing humanitarian assistance for those affected by war and natural calamities; preparing for a general election within two years. IGAD members congratulated President Sheikh Sharif on his elections and after exchanging views on the current situation in Somalia and on strengthening AMISOM concluded that:

1. There is a need for the new Government to build up joint security forces of troops from the TFG and the ARS.

2. The International Community should as a matter of urgency provide technical and financial support to build up the Somali army.

3. In the meantime IGAD members states pledge to provide technical and and material support and training to the Somali forces.

4. IGAD members will lobby for the urgent mobilization of humanitarian assistance to Somalia.

5. IGAD states will liaise closely with the Government of Somalia through the IGAD Facilitator and continue to render the Government of Somalia necessary political support to its endeavor for peace and national reconciliation.

The IGAD meeting also discussed the issue of the International Criminal Court’s indictment of President Omar El Bashir. In its communiqué, IGAD called upon the UN Security Council to defer the ICC process as per Article 16 of the Rome Statute in accordance with resolutions adopted by the African Union, IGAD and the League of Arab States. IGAD also called on the 12

· On Wednesday this week, Prime Minister Meles attended the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit in India. The summit was organized by India’s Energy and Resource Institute under the theme "Towards Copenhagen- an equitable and ethical approach”. In his address the Prime Minister underlined that unless the world acts fast and in a decisive manner "global warming could get out of control and result in an unimaginable catastrophe". Recent economic trends suggest that China, India and a few other emerging countries with large populations, totaling at least four times the size of the industrialized west, cannot repeat the same path of resource-intensive and carbon-based industrialization. The planet simply does not have enough resources to sustain such growth. It was, he said, an economic imperative, and an environmental imperative to find an alternative, so that "peoples in the developing world can uplift themselves from poverty." Prime Minister Meles also stressed that the impact of global warming is economically more damaging to Africa than anywhere else. He mentioned the historic decision of the AU to be represented in global negotiations by one negotiating team, fully empowered to negotiate for the mobilization of resources on behalf of all member states of the African Union. On the sidelines of the Delhi Summit, the Prime Minister held talks with Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, India’s Minister of External Affairs, on mutual issues of bilateral and regional concern. He visited the Indian Institute of Technology and held talks with the Institute's Director and various professors. He was shown how Ethiopian-based students pursue their studies through video-conferencing; and also held discussions with potential Indian investors wishing to engage in the textile and education sectors in Ethiopia.

· Since the UN Millennium Summit, there has been growing pressure for the need for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council, and the 2005 World Summit underlined the need to make the Council more broadly representative, efficient, transparent, and effective to improve the legitimacy and implementation of its decisions. Following the UN’s General Assembly decision of September 15 last year, the Open-Ended Working Group will commence its discussions on February 19 in New York. President d’Escoto has already announced that he will be responding to calls for more clarity on the terms and modalities of the negotiations and will present a work plan to the opening session and an initial schedule of meetings. This week, Italy’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Franco Frattini, has convened a ministerial meeting of the Open–Ended Working Group (OENG) to try to work for a common understanding on the methodology necessary to set the negotiations off on the right track, to search for solutions enjoying the widest political support in advance of the intergovernmental negotiations later this month. Some seventy states sent representatives, among them Ethiopia. Foreign Minister Seyoum addressed the gathering on Thursday, outlining Ethiopia’s views on UN reform.

Minister Seyoum emphasized that Ethiopia’s record in complying with the common position of Africa on issues like this was second to none. He pointed out that Ethiopia had initially taken a different position on both the Ezulwini consensus and the Sirte Declaration, but it now subscribed fully, and would continue to do so, to the common African position with respect to the distribution of both permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council. Indeed, upholding the position of Africa was imperative both because of Ethiopia’s commitment to principle and for practical necessity. No one could doubt that the victim of double standards at the UN and other fora was usually Africa. He accepted that reform of the Security Council would not be easy. Some might think the African demand for two permanent and three or five non-permanent seats on the Council was unrealistic. The point was, however, one of an underlying principle. It was absolutely critical for all UN bodies to be adequately representative, to have transparent working methods, and be equitably accessible to all. Only this would provide the necessary credibility, and no UN body, Minister Seyoum emphasized, could be credible and effective unless its composition reflected the realities of the international community. This applied to all UN component parts including the Security Council. Ethiopia, therefore, felt that it was in the best interests of the present five permanent members of the Security Council to cooperate in the process of reform, to make the body more democratic and representative and to transform its working methods into something transparent, efficient and effective. This was impossible without enlargement of membership. Equally, it was not a matter of mere enlargement; it was rather a question of real transformation to a democratic, accountable and representative body reflecting the views, sentiments and common interests of the international community.

Ethiopia, therefore, believed negotiating positions must be addressed within the framework of the OEWG. These included the category of membership, the question of the veto, of regional representation and of the size of the enlarged Security Council. The most effective position would be the most flexible. The objective should be mutual accommodation with the view that all shared, that is to turn the Security Council into an accountable, democratic and accessible body. Ethiopia, Minister Seyoum underlined, had a major stake in protecting the credibility of the Security Council both as a nation with its own multifaceted security challenges, and as an African state and as a member of the African Union facing many common challenges. At both levels Ethiopia felt there was a need to seek partners in the on-going consultations for the reform of the Security Council. It therefore attached great importance to the negotiations that would soon get under way in New York, but these, Minister Seyoum added, must be seen to be democratic: a process to transform an increasingly undemocratic institution must itself be clearly democratic.

Another point that had to be highlighted was the need to speed up the on-going negotiations. They could not go on for ever. The transformation of the UN Security Council, Minister Seyoum pointed out, was indispensable for Africa. This did not mean any quick fix; the outcome must be based on the widest possible consensus among the entire family of nations. This was why, Minister Seyoum said, he had come to the meeting with an open mind. He wanted a win-win outcome whose major contribution would be to make UN organs such as the Security Council provide a more credible and effective instrument in the service of the international community as a whole. So, he noted, Ethiopia was always prepared for compromise and to be flexible when warranted; and he assured Minister Frattini that he could expect the fullest cooperation on this and other matters.

Meanwhile, in addition to attending the OEWG meeting, Minister Seyoum also held bilateral discussions with Italy’s Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini on Wednesday. The ministers confirmed the excellent state of relations and discussed the potential to strengthen these economically. Minister Seyoum expressed Ethiopia’s interest in having more Italian companies operating in Ethiopia and an increased flow of inward investment. The ministers reiterated their intention to continue to collaborate to work towards solutions to the main regional crises in the Horn of Africa. Minister Frattini pointed out that a particular interest of Italy’s G8 Presidency was African issues, and emphasized that Italy saw Africa as an important actor in reaching solutions to global and regional problems. He noted that Italy would be promoting outreach initiatives during the La Maddalena Summit.

· On the sidelines of the AU Summit, Ethiopian officials held numerous bilateral and multilateral meetings with various ministers and others, both from Africa and from outside the continent during the week. Prime Minister Meles met British Minister for African Affairs, Lord Mallock Brown to discuss bilateral issues. The situation in Eastern Africa particularly in Somalia was high on the agenda during their discussions. They agreed on the need for a comprehensive approach by the international community in its bid to support a stable government in Somalia. Prime Minister Meles also met with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry. The Prime Minister also met the acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr. Phillip Carter. Views were exchanged on regional issues of mutual concern, as well as on the bilateral relations between the two countries. During the talks, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together to bring peace and stability to the Horn of Africa region despite the many challenges it faced. The acting Assistant Secretary of State expressed his appreciation for the existing deep and wide bilateral relations, and emphasized the desire of the new U.S. Administration of President Obama to strengthen these relations further. This week President Barack Obama also sent a letter to Prime Minister Meles thanking him for his message of congratulation, and expressing his confidence they could work together “in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a more secure world during the next four years”. The President said that he was looking forward to working with the Prime Minister in promoting good relations between the two countries.

· Foreign Minister Seyoum held talks with Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tuesday. The discussions focused on bilateral and regional issues of common concern. Minister Seyoum briefed the Iranian Foreign Minister on recent significant political developments in the region with particular emphasis on Somalia. He expressed Ethiopia’s desire to engage in meaningful and mutually beneficial co-operation with Iran, referring to the existence of untapped potential, and overall investment opportunities in Ethiopia. He hoped the Government of the Islamic Republic would encourage Iranian companies to take advantage of these to invest and open businesses in Ethiopia. Mr. Mottaki noted that the Islamic Republic had rich experience in hydro-electric power generation, in oil and gas exploration, in the manufacture of agricultural machinery and in cement production. He conveyed the readiness of the Government of Iran to share its experiences and said that Iranian investors were keen to participate in these sectors. The two ministers noted that Ethiopia and Iran shared similar historical heritage and culture, and the ideals of religious tolerance. Their peoples had high esteem and respect for each other. These factors should be utilized to provide opportunities for mutual benefit.

During the week, Ethiopia and Mali signed a cooperation agreement aimed at bolstering bilateral ties in the spheres of cultural affairs, mass media and peace and security. Foreign Minister Seyoum and his Malian counterpart signed the agreement in the presence of the leaders of the two countries. Minister Seyoum also met the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navanthem Pillay and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration(IOM), Ambassador William Lacy Swing. Deliberations with the IOM head focused on global issues, border management, capacity building and consultative discussions on relevant issues in the Horn of Africa. Foreign Minister Seyoum met Mr.Stefano Manservisi, Director General for Development and Relations with ACP countries at the European Union, on February 2

Norway’s State Secretary for Africa, Raymond Johansen, who was in Addis Ababa to observe the AU’s Executive Council’s meeting last week, also met with Minister of State, Dr. Tekeda Alemu. Also present with Mr. Johansen’s delegation was Norway’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Jens-Petter Kjemprud. Their talks, which covered a broad range of issues, both bilateral and multilateral, were conducted in a friendly manner, reflectng the mutual desire of both sides for further development of co-operation in all areas. Dr. Tekeda expressed his satisfaction over the full restoration of Ethio-Norway diplomatic relations, which had experienced a slight hiccup last year, and thanked the Norwegian government for the commitment it demonstrated in making sure the relations were back to normal. State Minister Tekeda, who briefed the Norwegian Minister on the present challenges to the peace and security in the region, reiterated Ethiopia’s conviction that Norway has both the capacity and the opportunity to play a vital role for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, and in assisting regional co-operation among the states of the region. State Secretary Johansen, explaining that Horn of Africa was a priority interest of his government, underlined Norway’s conviction that peace and stability, and mutually supportive co-operation among the countries of the Horn, was also in the interest of Norway. It was in that light that Norway’s active engagement with Ethiopia and the region should be appreciated. He went on to add, with the confirmation of Ambassador Kjemprud, that Norway had begun to work more actively with IGAD and there was the possibility of greater Norwegian engagement with the regional body. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the status of Ethiopia-Norway relations, and their confidence that these could be expected to expand even more in the future.

· The first regional agreement between African and Arab states on combating piracy was signed in Djibouti on Thursday last week at a meeting organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In preparation for last week’s Djibouti meeting, the IMO hosted preliminary regional meetings in Sana’a in 2005, in Oman and in Tanzania last year. Nine of the countries in the region, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Yemen, have now signed the Djibouti Code of Conduct, allowing for co-operation in preventing seizures of ships and in apprehending suspected pirates for arrest and prosecution. The Code of Conduct allows signatories to send armed forces into another state’s territorial waters in pursuit of pirates. It also allows for joint anti-piracy operations in some cases. Information centers are to be set up in Kenya, Tanzania and Yemen, and an anti-piracy military training center in Djibouti. The Code of Conduct also calls on signatories to pass new laws or change existing laws to allow for the arrest and prosecution of suspected pirates. The IMO Regional Coordinator suggested that as an interim measure a country with the relevant legislation might prosecute on behalf of a state where such legislation had yet to be passed. A number of other states attended the meeting as did observers from various countries and from various intergovernmental organizations.

In developing this mechanism to fight piracy in the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and around the Horn of Africa, the IMO took as its model the Regional Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia. This agreement between 16 states was signed in 2004 and came in to force in 2006. It has been credited with sharply reducing piracy particularly in the Malacca Straits and South-east Asia. According to the IMO, the problem in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden has become significantly more serious than any where else in the world. Twenty thousand ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year, and their cargoes include 12% of the world’s daily oil supply. Last year pirates attacked more than 110 ships off the coasts of Somalia, successfully high-jacking 42 of them and providing the pirates, according to UN estimates, with more than US$100 million. One effect has been a sharp rise in shipping and insurance costs. Another has been that the international community has finally woken up to the expanding danger from the lack of a functional government in Somalia. The UN Security Council passed four resolutions last year (Resolution 1816 (2008) in June, Resolution 1836 (2008) in October, and Resolution 1846 (2008) and Resolution 1851 (2008) both in December. The last of these allows states and regional organizations co-operating in the fight against piracy to “undertake all necessary measures in Somalia for the purpose of suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea…consistent with applicable international humanitarian and human rights law.” Piracy has long been one of the main symptoms of conflict and instability in Somalia and the UN Security Council Resolutions, like the Djibouti Code of Conduct marks some of the first indications that the international community is finally taking the situation seriously. More than a dozen countries, including the United States, China, Russia, India, Iran and countries in the European Union, now have warships in the area.

· The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have signed an agreement on the establishment of a Diplomatic Mission of the League of Arab States. Foreign Minister Seyoum and Mr. Amre Mousa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, signed the agreement on the sidelines of the opening of the 12th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government on Monday, Feb. 2, in Addis Ababa. The agreement gives the Arab League's Permanent Mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa the status of a diplomatic Mission in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia with all due privileges and immunities accorded to the staff of the Mission. Minister Seyoum described it as an historic day and he and Secretary-General Amre Mousa applauded the signing of the agreement, making clear that it would further consolidate and enhance the bilateral relations and cooperation between Ethiopia and members of the League of Arab States. Mr. Mousa also emphasized that the establishment of the mission of the League of Arab States in Ethiopia would definitely assist the Arab League to intensify its contributions to peace and security in Africa and also help the League to further strengthen the long-standing and multifaceted relations between Ethiopia and the various member states of the League.

· This week’s Economist (5 February 2009) has a piece entitled ‘The Government [of Ethiopia] says Human Rights Watch has got it wrong. Really?”. Yes indeed, Human Rights Watch has, and the Economist has as well. The piece even starts with an opening line making unsubstantiated allegations that independent voices are finding it harder to be heard in Ethiopia and that critical journalism is stifled. Nothing could be further from the truth. No one in Ethiopia, in Government or otherwise, can claim perfection when it comes to respect for and enjoyment of human rights. As the Government has frequently made clear, it recognizes that ensuring respect for human rights is an ongoing struggle. But it is a struggle that has been producing meaningful and tangible results even though Government and stakeholders certainly need to strive together further to enhance the level of human rights protection in the country. The minimum one could ask of commentators like the Economist is to be objective. Given the very grave allegations they make, this is surely not too much to ask. With regard to freedom of expression, Ethiopia has, in fact, a flourishing private and public print media. The fledgling electronic media is attracting a huge following and most importantly is being used as the most accessible medium of discussion on vital social-economic and political issues. In human rights terms in general, Ethiopia can safely boast of huge strides in making the obligations of respect for the rights of individuals and groups a part and parcel of the law of the land. The political discourse in the country now centres around these fundamental human and democratic rights. Despite the remaining challenges, which the Government readily recognizes, there has also been significant strides in building institutions, including an independent judiciary, national human rights institutions, and oversight by the House of Peoples’ Representatives. Teaching human rights and general public dissemination of these rights is being undertaken regularly by public and private entities. Laws and policies are discussed and debated with all stakeholders. The Government willingly includes foreign entities as development partners in these consultations. They make their suggestions known in a manner that is unprecedented for almost any other country. The level of participation, consultation and close public scrutiny is undoubtedly a highly objective testimony to the commitment of the Government of Ethiopia to human rights and good governance. The human rights outlook and the constitutional entitlements in Ethiopia are not as narrow as the focus of their detractors. They include all aspects of human rights, civil and political, economic, cultural and social, gender equality, respect for the environment and the protection of the rights of child and ensuring the rights of persons with disability. All the achievements in these and various areas of human rights are usually ignored by the reports of advocacy organizations like Human Rights Watch. As the Economist rightly notes, such organizations are pressure groups, and as such they are susceptible to wild exaggerations and disinformation, just to gather the attention that they need. Ethiopia undertook its own investigation into allegations made by Human Rights Watch, not as a public relations exercise but because of the gravity of the allegations and because of the Government’s accountability to the public. It did not set out to address all the claims made by HRW, but those that specified specific names of individuals and places. Concrete evidence proved these allegations wrong. The Economist’s commentary, which includes hasty generalizations on the alleged arrest of opponents, suggests a superficial political assessment not worthy of the journal. Pluralistic political culture and multiparty politics have become a way of life in Ethiopia, not just because they are in the country’s constitution. They are now irreversible, and support a steadily growing democratic culture in the country.