Peace and stability are cornerstones for sustainable development. Democracy, good governance and economic development can only be realized and sustained if there is peace and stability. Most developing nations and especially African nations and most importantly the horn of Africa have been deprived of those basic and fundamental values and norms for generations. As a result, they lagged behind in their effort towards development and progress. Constant conflicts and wars based on ethnic, tribal, religious and ideological differences became their greatest challenges and obstacles to development. Instead of resolving those challenges and obstacles through peaceful, democratic and traditional ways and means, many African nations opted for violent and military ways and means for resolving their internal as well as external differences. The result was simply loss of human lives and destruction of invaluable resources. Conflicts and war, illegal and violent activities as ways and means of achieving individual, group or institutional goals and objectives will always have detrimental consequences on peace and development of any nation because they cause damage, destruction and underdevelopment that are highly regrettable. On the other hand, tolerance, dialogue and respect for the rule of law are signs of a peaceful and civilized society and they are also fundamental bases for a healthy democracy. Further, whatever time they might take, these fundamental phenomenon of a civilized society will help narrow differences, strengthen healthy relationships and cooperation amongst the public at large and most importantly help reduce and avoid damage and distraction and enhance mutual respect and unity in diversity. For example, dialogue among the adherents of the major world religions has always taken place, especially but not only among the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Excellent examples of this may be found in the midst of shared histories where we are more often presented with a record of conflicts. The high points must be the enormously rich and creative interactions which took place in mediaeval Islamic Spain and Southern Italy and at various times in places as far apart as Central Asia, Baghdad, Delhi, Cairo and in the Ottoman empire. Dialogue as a movement with its institutions and full-time professionals, its networks of activists, inter-religious dialogue is primarily a phenomenon of the 20th century. It is the pressures of this century which have demanded that we mobilize the resources of the great religions for dialogue and peace, purposes which have historically often seemed marginal. Although developed nations take credit for upholding and advancing this civilized phenomenon, developing nations like Ethiopia have for generations used traditional and peaceful conflict resolving mechanisms. The Geda system of Oromia and many others from different nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia are examples of such a phenomenon. Unfortunately, these peaceful traditional ways and means of conflict resolution mechanisms have over time been forgotten and/or replaced by violent means and ways in this country particularly during the former military regime: the Derg. Therefore, it is important to develop and reinforce these traditional peaceful mechanisms by asking the elderly, the traditional leaders and others who possess knowledge in that regard because they proved to be working and have been effective for generations. Political parties in developing countries like Ethiopia have a lesson or two to learn from the experiences of domestic peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms coupled with modern, selected and useful western values. Assimilating both and putting them into effect can reinforce and enhance civilized values and norms that are already mentioned. It is very important to underscore the significant role that can be played by the Diasporas in promoting and advancing dialogue, tolerance and other peaceful ways and means of resolving differences be it individual, group or political party’s. Since Diasporas by and large reside in countries with rich experience in tolerance, dialogue and other similar peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms and since they live and experience those norms, they are best suited to contribute their experiences to their country of origin. They can play a significant role in promoting those values and norms to the society with less experience in that regard. In other words, they must help in transferring those peaceful values that they take for granted in places where they reside and the achievements gained as a result; as opposed to advocating violence and other illegal activities in order to achieve personal, group or institutional goals. Diaspora’s gift for their country of origin should therefore primarily focus on promoting peace, stability and sustainable development and certainly not violence, anarchy and lawlessness. The greatest lesson of this century is that peace is the highest ideal to the international community. Our country suffered because of conflicts and wars, each more ferocious than all previous wars. The price our people paid because of those conflicts and wars have been devastating. One of the other more serious problems which we have been confronted with today is intolerance. Some foreign based radio stations such as the VOA and Deutsche Welle Amharic Services programs and web-sites such as the Ethio-Media.Com preach and write issues that propagate violence instead of peace and tolerance. Also some governmental as well as non-governmental donor institutions alike are misguided by few noisy opposition groups and some disillusioned self appointed human rights group in their country about the true picture of the country in question and the whole world media follows suit, we would like to ask: What sort of human rights do they preach? Do donor institutions have powers and all the rights to preach whatever they want and should the poor countries only limit themselves to those rights which do not disturb donor agencies? When we follow donor’s interests, we get the full support, but when their own interests are interfered with, these same agencies then side with few noisy opposition advocates to achieve their own interests. International cooperation and assistance reinforces indigenous initiatives in democratization, good governance and in sustainable development. However, the root cause for development starts from within by the initiatives and hard work of the indigenous population. It is important therefore that the international community in general do not use donor politics to impose upon domestic and national interest. Using assistance as a weapon to divert sovereign nation’s priorities can not bare fruit; therefore international assistance must not be confused with political interest. Although foreign assistance designed to encourage development is truly significant, and thus must be reinforced and certainly not reduced or stopped, they must realize that it is them that primarily play the major role in developing their nation. The 21st century invites us to think of the past and to plan a future, a future which gives us security to live in peace and happiness. A future which guarantees education to all, a future which eliminates poverty and all weapons of destruction, a future which provides peace, tolerance and sustainable development and a future that allows unity in diversity. Only a national strategy based on the culture of peace with its new values orientations, mentalities and forms of behavior can provide answers to our national challenges. In order to achieve our goals i.e. poverty reduction, democratization and good governance coupled with sustainable development, Ethiopians in general and political parties in particular must learn to appreciate peace and tolerance and respect the rule of law. Further, the people both from within and the Diaspora must focus on development issues to improve the economic condition of the country and the global community must continue with its good initiative of extending its economic support and with its technical and technological cooperation to help this country in its effort to reduce and illuminate poverty and embark on democratization and good governance. Generally, peace and tolerance are cornerstones to achieving developmental endeavor and therefore, they should not be taken for granted.