A time for Commitment and a time for engagement

The following is a transcript of remarks made by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Vicki J. Huddleston at a press conference with journalists on April 5, 2006, Addis Ababa.

"Thank you all for coming today.  It is really kind of you and I apologize that it has taken us a while, me in particular, to get back with the local press and have a good conversation. 

I think the reason that I really wanted to meet with you today is to tell you that I think that right now is an extremely important time.  As you saw in the testimony of our Deputy Assistant Secretary Ambassador Don Yamamoto, he said that he believes that Ethiopia is at a crossroads.  I think we all believe Ethiopia is at a crossroads, and because it is a crossroads, we believe that now it is time for commitment, and it is time for engagement.  Engagement and commitment for sustained development, and for multi-party democracy. 

That commitment means a commitment to all voices being heard in the Parliament, and full participation of the opposition in the Parliament; that means full commitment to institution building, which includes a more open Parliament, a discussion of Parliamentary rules, a review of the media; we are bringing in an international team under USAID auspices, at the request of the government to look at the draft press law, so I am sure that is of considerable interest to all of you, and to compare it with international standards and recommend how the press can become more responsible and more open, both of which are very important. 

Also the process is now ongoing of reviewing the National Elections board (NEBE) in the expectation that it will be an improved Board that will ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in 2007.  We also believe it is a time of commitment and engagement for the opposition to take control of the city of Addis Ababa.  They were elected to this city, they need to lead this city.  The city should be in the hands of those who were elected to lead it.

We believe this is a time when all parties, government and opposition, should commit to dialogue, to reconciliation, and to the improvement of human rights and respect for human rights.  We believe this is a time in which there is an opportunity for the opposition CUD to once again have a political vehicle that will take it to the elections and give it effective representation in the Parliament and in the City Council, by forming the CUDP.

So there is a lot afoot, and a lot that is possible, if there is engagement, if there is commitment on all parties to participate fully in the democratic process, in the political process in Ethiopia.

A top priority of the United States Government remains the release of the CUD and civil society leaders who were imprisoned following the civil disobedience and the riots in November 2005.  We will not forget them, we are extremely concerned about their situation.  We have repeatedly talked to the government and called for their release.  We have been told by the government that they will stand trial.  Given that this is the position of the government, we strongly urge reduction of trial, a reduction of charges, the possibility of bail, and a speedy, fair, and transparent trial.  We also urge that any persons in jail who have not been charged be released, and that the security forces take care to respect the rights of each individual and to never use excessive force in the detention of individuals or in their attempts to control demonstrations.  

Now, is the time to put the past behind.  We believe that the EPRDF won the elections; the Carter Center said that the elections were generally credible.  We believe that the opposition, as Ambassador Yamamoto said, lost seats in the complaints process and should have had more seats in Parliament, but it did not win the majority.   We believe that the opposition gained an enormous voice, first of all a voice and a right to run and to manage and to lead this great city where you have the African Union, and the United Nations resident, as well as many, many representatives of foreign countries; and the right to have a significant voice in a free parliament and in the direction of the nation. 

Last night I was at a talk at which the World Bank Resident Representative here in Addis was speaking.  He was asked whether or not it was true that Ethiopia is progressing economically.  He said this was true.  I think this is so important.  This is why the country is at a crossroads.  There is improvement in education, there is improvement in health, the birth rate is coming down, there is a real possibility that Ethiopia can become a true leader for Africa, if it dedicates itself as a united country, to eradicate poverty, to jump onto the tide of change that brings true democracy, respect for human rights, and sustained development. 

I think back to one of my favorite Bible verses, a Psalm which was read at President Kennedy’s funeral which says that  “there is a time to sow, and there is a time to reap, there is a time to mourn, and there’s a time to celebrate.”  I think that for Ethiopia now, it is a time to move forward, it is a time of commitment, it is a time of engagement, a time of change, and I urge all parties in Ethiopia to take the example of Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned, but allowed the political process to move forward in his country.  And when he came out, he united whites, blacks, and all colored in all parts of the South African nation.  I hope this will occur in Ethiopia.  Thank you."