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A high-level delegation led by Ms. Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor General
of the Common wealth of Australia, arrived in Addis Ababa, on 26 March
2009 to commence a two-day state visit to Ethiopia. Upon arrival, Ms.
Quentin Bryce was received at the Bole Intentional Airport by High
Government Officials.
The objective of the visit to Ethiopia is to deepen the existing strong
bilateral relations between the two countries. During the visit, the
Governor General met and held discussions with Ato Girma W/Giorgis,
President of the FDRE and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on how to broaden
bilateral relations and expand the scope of cooperation. The Governor
General also visited the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and its Midwife
Training School, which is being run by the renowned Australian Dr.
Catherine Hamlin and supported by the Australian Government.
The Governor General is paying a series of state and official visits to
nine African countries including Ethiopia. Her visit demonstrates
Australia's commitment to increased political and diplomatic engagement
with Africa. It also reflects the growing interest Australia has in
Africa in promoting trade and investment as well as the willingness to
work together with African countries to find multilateral solutions to
global issues.
Ethiopia views this high level visit as a milestone in its relations with
Australia and a continuation of the new vigor injected to it recently. It
is to be recalled that Mr. Stephen Smith, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Australia attended and addressed the Executive Council meeting of the
African Union in January 2009. On the sidelines of the meeting, the
Foreign Minister had met with Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin
and exchanged views on promoting bilateral relations. Ethiopia welcomes
the Governor General's visit and hopes that the continent will witness a
vigorous Australian engagement that will promote mutual benefit.
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The International Organization for Migration-IOM convened an
International Dialogue on Migration at a Workshop on "Effective Respect
for the Human Rights of Migrants: A Shared Responsibility", held in
Geneva from 25 - 26 March 2009. The meeting brought together Government
representatives, international organizations and civil society
representatives and mandate holders on the rights of migrants. The
Workshop held four panel sessions under themes of Human Rights and
Migrants: Frameworks and Implementation; Fighting Discrimination and
Promoting Integration: Human Rights Challenges for Migrants and
Societies; Labor Mobility: Rights and Responsibilities and Realizing the
Human Rights of Migrants; and Partnerships for Success. The discussions
focused on the rights of migrants as experienced in different countries
as hosts, as transit stopovers or in countries of origin. All the
speakers stressed that all human rights should apply to migrants as
human beings regardless of their status. Many gruesome accounts of
abuses and discrimination were presented during the workshop including
personal testimonies. A number of suggestions and recommendations aimed
at enhancing the protection of the rights of migrants were made. The
need for creating awareness and for regional dialogue was stressed. Best
practices and experiences were identified. Protection for the health of
migrants was also given emphasis as a subject for special discussion.
Ethiopia was represented by two officials and its delegation made a
presentation on the problems facing Ethiopian migrants and on the
efforts of the Government of Ethiopia to address these issues whether
through different legal and institutional mechanisms, or through the
necessary cooperation from both transit and host countries, and the
international community at large.
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The World Water Forum held in Istanbul, Turkey from 16 to 22 March 2009
was an important milestone for the global discourse on water and
sanitation, and meant to foster dialogue and enhance international
cooperation on water-related issues normally dealt with by various
United Nations and regional bodies. Major reports from the United
Nation's inter-agency cooperation, UN Water, and from the World Water
Council and other bodies were launched at the Forum whose discussions
covered two tracks, the political process and thematic discussions. In
both areas, the overall discussions and their results fitted the
objectives of the Forum. Equally, however, in both areas problems
affecting the interests of countries like Ethiopia also arose.
With regard to the political process, the format of the Forum was senior
officials’ meeting followed by a Ministerial Conference. At this meeting,
a draft statement for the Ministerial Conference was tabled for adoption.
However, the draft statement included a paragraph supposedly meant to
promote cooperation on sustainable use and protection of trans-boundary
water resources “in conformity with existing agreements and/or other
relevant arrangements”. This might appear innocuous but the
question of existing agreements in fact goes to the heart of the current
negotiations under the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) where the Nile riparian
states have been trying to finalize the negotiations over a Cooperative
Framework Agreement to be based upon principles of equitable and
reasonable utilization of shared water resources. Seven of the nine Nile
riparian states now agree on the existing negotiated text, but finality
has yet to be achieved. In this situation, although the Ministerial
Statement entails no legal or political consequences for the NBI or for
Ethiopia, simple acceptance of the draft Ministerial Statement would have
been self-contradictory. Ethiopia therefore pressed for the deletion of
this phrase at the Senior Officials' Meeting. This proved impossible as
the draft text had already been finalized and the Senior Officials’
Meeting was expected to do no more than commend the statement to the
Ministerial Conference. The Ethiopian Delegation therefore had to put its
position on the record at the closing ceremony, with the Minister for
Water Resources of Ethiopia making it clear that Ethiopia could not accept
that part of the Ministerial Statement and expressing his regret at the
procedures followed. The Minister, who was also speaking for a number of
other upper Nile riparian States, put on record that the phrase, if
accepted, would prevent the establishment of an equitable arrangement of
usage in accordance with accepted principles of international law.
The problem with the Ministerial Statement was not the only matter of
concern to the Ethiopian delegation. One of the thematic discussions
covered co-operation over trans-boundary water. This was coordinated by
UNESCO and International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO). The
intention was to foster experience sharing and enhance cooperation among
riparian states. It was aimed at encouraging dialogue on trans-boundary
co-operation and basin management and to help answer pertinent questions
on how to achieve hydro-solidarity, involve stakeholders in
decision-making processes, or decide on the mechanisms needed. During the
discussion, a speaker from the Arab League Secretariat made a presentation
on trans-boundary rivers which was factually inaccurate and made no effort
to enhance co-operation over the Nile and a number of other rivers.
Eventually the Ethiopian representative was able to correct the errors and
outline the work that has been undertaken to foster cooperation over the
Nile River including the negotiations over the Cooperative Framework
Agreement. It left, however, some concern over the way the discussions had
been handled. In some cases there was little effort to contribute usefully
to the dialogue among the Nile riparian states. Indeed, at least one
presentation was clearly aimed at undermining the work that the NBI has
already achieved. Inevitably, it leads one to ask whether this was a
deliberate attempt to retard Ethiopia's current efforts to develop its
natural resources to lift itself out of poverty and under-development. It
might be noted that a recent BBC program on dam building in Ethiopia
appeared to have a similar aim, failing as it did to take a serious and
balanced look at the progress being made in developing the country's
hydro-power potential. The Minister of Water Resources, Ato Asfaw Dingamo
used the occasion to tell the Forum about Ethiopia's developmental
efforts, including its drawing up of a Water Resources Management Policy,
and a Water Sector Development Strategy and Program focusing on ensuring
universal access to safe drinking water, ensuring food security and energy
needs through sustainable water resource development. He identified
climate change and lack of adequate water infrastructure as major
challenges facing the country in implementing these frameworks. He noted
that overcoming these difficulties would require continued support from
development partners to ensure availability of development finance and
investment in the water sector. (A week in the Horn will come up with
additional reports on this issue next week)
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Last week, a number of Internet websites carried a call from Al-Qaeda's
leader, Osama bin Laden, for Somalis to stage an “Islamic” uprising to
topple Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. His statement seems
to have been an attempt to encourage greater support for the extremist
Al-Shabaab opposition group in Somalia following a number of defeats
inflicted on Al-Shabaab by other Islamic groups and supporters of the
Somali government, notably Ahlu-Sunna wal-Jama'aa, and some
demonstrations against Al-Shabaab in towns which it currently controls,
like Baidoa. It also underlined Al-Qaeda 's continuing interest in
Somalia even though it is clear that, politically, there is far more
general support for President Sheikh Sharif's policies of peace and
reconciliation than for Al-Shabaab's continued insistence on war and
conflict. Bin Laden's statement followed an interview given by Al-Shabaab's
spokesman in Somalia, Sheikh Muktar Robow 'Abu Mansur', to Al Jazeera
last week in which he reiterated that Al-Shabaab had foreigners in its
ranks and had connections with Al-Qaeda as well as a common goal to
establish Islamic law in Muslim societies. He took the opportunity to
welcome Al-Qaeda's support and denounced President Sheikh Sharif as the
leader of a “non-Muslim” government. Sheikh Muktar denied Al-Shabaab had
links to the pirates, although there have been reports that some pirate
groups pay a percentage to Al-Shabaab. He also denied Al-Shabaab
assassinated opponents. Last week, according to Ahlu-Sunna wal-Jama'aa,
two of its own religious leaders were captured by Al-Shabaab en route to
hospital, and immediately beheaded.
Al-Qaeda's call for the overthrow of President Sheikh Sharif has been
echoed by the Government of Eritrea. In a statement last weekend (“Mere
Dreams and Obstructionists”), the Eritrean Foreign Ministry spoke of the
“externally master-minded puppet government that changes colours now and
again in a bid to prevent the Somali people from reconstituting the
nation”. As in a series of other statements, including its “Focus on
Somalia” last month, the Eritrean ministry claimed putting an end to
external interference is a pre-condition for Somali restructuring. It
presumably does not include its own admitted Eritrean interference which
includes support for both Al-Shabaab, sent through Kismayo, and for the
Asmara-based opposition fragment led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir 'Aweys'. Like
Al-Shabaab, and indeed Al-Qaeda, Eritrea also argues that any other
external forces deployed in Somalia “under the pretext of a peace-keeping
mission” should be gotten rid of. AMISOM is, of course, the only such
force currently deployed in Somalia. Equally, again like Al-Shabaab and
Al-Qaeda, Eritrea is dismissive of President Sheikh Sharif’s talking about
“futile attempts or conspiracies resorted to under the guise of
reconciliation”. These are classified as no more than “political balloons”
apparently put in place for the benefit of “foreign agendas”, by which
Eritrea, of course, means Ethiopia. Eritrea's desperate efforts to
denigrate Ethiopia would scarcely be worth bothering about, but it is
regrettable that Eritrea is prepared to link up with known terrorist
organizations in its attempt to smear Ethiopia, and tragic that it is
prepared to try and destroy the possibilities of peace in Somalia for the
same end. Eritrea has no genuine national or security concerns in Somalia
and all its spoiling efforts, and its connections with organizations like
Al-Shabaab and others, can do no more than damage the chance of peace and
reconciliation in Somalia.
In this regard, the US Representative at the Security Council meeting on
the 20th of March, 2009, Ambassador Rosemary Dicarlo was absolutely right
when she made the remark, even if long overdue, that “…Eritrea continues
to provide financial, logistical, and political backing to Al Shabab and
other extremists and has issued a formal statement rejecting the new
Somali government. We condemn these actions by Al Shabab and Eritrea: they
serve only to prolong the conflict in Somalia, and they can no longer be
tolerated.”
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In the last few years, in some Ethiopian communities abroad, mainly in
European and North American cities, a number of fringe groups have
appeared, dedicated to try to poison relations between these countries
and their own. With the use of intimidation and force, these “hate”
groups have at times succeeded in imposing their views on the majority.
All too often, the silent majority of the Diaspora have kept themselves
out of political activities in disgust at the levels of acrimony and
hatred propagated by these groups. Equally, at times, the majority does
break its silence and marginalize the extremists. Last week, there was
an attempt by a few hooligans to disrupt a meeting at the Ethiopian
Embassy in London. They hurled abuse and threatened guests going into
the Embassy, and even went so far as to attack religious leaders, later
attempting to use a video of this event to encourage attacks on those
attending. The police quickly deployed to control the situation as these
thugs tried to force themselves into the Embassy. But they should not
have been allowed to go that far in the first place. Such actions cannot
be taken lightly. Ethiopia will continue to work closely with relevant
authorities to ensure appropriate protection of Diplomatic Missions and
their personnel in accordance with international law, and violators
should be brought before the courts of these countries.
These are certainly no more than small-minded acts of few hooligans, but
they do highlight the path these few individuals have chosen - hatred and
violence. These individuals cannot simply be dismissed as instruments of
foreign backers or unrepresentative extremist groups or desperate young
people dying for attention. And, indeed, as Ethiopia moves ahead with
democratization, they are likely to become even more extreme. They do in
fact represent a malaise within a section of the opposition, a refusal to
accept the progress towards democratization. Some, the most extreme
elements, are simply beyond the pale and should merely be left for the law
to deal with. Community associations and other groups should work
purposefully to isolate these elements and promote tolerance and
understanding between different groups, to provide for a durable solution.
It is necessary to reach out to young people, to explain that these “hate”
groups do not represent any sections of Ethiopian society. It is also
important to make sure that they know being politically active does not
require the taking up of violence or extreme positions. There are many
ways of meaningful participation to demonstrate political positions,
whether in opposition or not, including, for example, the Internet which
should be used for sane political discourse not, as so often today, for
propagating hate and disinformation. Such hatred and violence must be made
irrelevant through the increasing democratization of the country.
Equality, mutual respect for the different cultures and history of each
nation, nationality and people, is the surest way Ethiopia can deal with
these “hate” groups and their backers.
It is indeed saddening to see some Ethiopians continue with such madness
while others are doing everything they can to scuttle Ethiopia’s
development endeavors. The recent documentary by Peter Greste of the BBC
on the Hydro-Power Dam on the Omo River was of course an example of how
the efforts that the government exerts to transform the country’s economy
and to improve the lives of its peoples are negatively portrayed. The
building of the dam has nothing to do with harming the people of the
region. Should it be indicated that everything that is stated by the BBC
has no ground, and that as the Ethiopian Prime Minister has said to the
BBC, hydro dams intended to generate electricity could in fact contribute
to regulating the water levels of the river which is highly critical in
times of flood? But the likes of Peter Greste are far less inclined to
look at that aspect of the reality for reasons only known to them. What is
paradoxical, however, is some Ethiopians abroad are wasting their time to
echo these same allegations, apparently unmindful of the fact that this
indeed stands in the way of their country’s progress. Sadder still, these
same Ethiopians are mounting negative campaigns against Prime Minister
Meles’ participation in the upcoming G-20 Summit merely because he was
chosen by his African peers to represent the continent. That people
calling themselves Ethiopians should resent their country’s success so
vehemently is a conundrum indeed.
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