From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Dec 14 2009 - 07:43:09 EST
Ethiopia PM Rejects US Criticism, Calls Ties with Washington 'Solid'
Meles takes particular exception to a U.S. diplomat's comments about
Ethiopia's ethnic policies
Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa 14 December, 2009
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi over the weekend rejected U.S.
criticism of several of his government's policies and laws, but described
the country's relationship with Washington as "solid." Mr. Meles took
particular exception to a U.S. diplomat's comments about Ethiopia's ethnic
policies.
The Ethiopian leader reacted sharply to comments made by U.S. Ambassador to
the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva Douglas Griffiths.
Speaking at a council meeting last week, Ambassador Griffiths questioned
Ethiopia's contention that there is a fair representation of nationalities
in government institutions. He said independent observers note that most
senior government positions are represented by one ethnicity.
The dominant role of ethnic Tigrayans in the government, especially in the
military, has often been a contentious political issue in Ethiopia.
Tigrayans make up about six percent of the population.
But Prime Minister Meles flatly rejected Ambassador Griffiths' assertions.
"I have not heard of such idiocy. But if it has occurred, it proves the
idiocy of the person in Geneva," he said.
Speaking to reporters before traveling to the climate conference in
Copenhagen, Mr. Meles also dismissed a U.S. critique of Ethiopia's
restrictions on human rights and press freedom.
The U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa last week took the unusual step of urging
Ethiopia to review a recently passed law restricting the activities of
non-governmental organizations receiving foreign funding. The law goes into
effect next month.
The Center for International Human Rights at Chicago's Northwestern
University issued a report last month saying the measure effectively
silences human rights defenders and advocates of democratic governance. The
center described the Charities and Societies Proclamation, or CSO, as "the
most restrictive of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa" and compared it to
similarly repressive laws in Zimbabwe and Russia.
But Prime Minister Meles defended the measure, saying it is in line with
democratic norms. "There is no possibility of us changing the CSO law
because we believe it is a perfectly legitimate law and consistent, if not
with the theory, consistent with the practice in the advanced democracies,"
he said.
The Ethiopian leader also rejected U.S. concerns about the closure of a
newspaper that had criticized government policies. The U.S. embassy said
the closure of the Addis Neger newspaper and charges against other private
journalists and publishers might contribute to a perception that space for
independent media in Ethiopia is constrained.
The media rights group Reporters Without Borders said the decision of Addis
Neger's editors to close the paper and flee the country was evidence of a
climate of fear.
Mr. Meles said such criticisms are not based on facts. "We don't take this
institution seriously. Because they have proven to us over again, they take
any allegation against the government as the last word in the Bible and they
do not try to verify the facts," he said.
At the same time, Prime Minister Meles scoffed at reports that suggest
Ethiopia's relationship with the United States is strained. He called
bilateral ties "mature." "It was never off track. People assumed it was off
track because of some idiot comment made by this or that particular person
in this or that particular place. But the relationship is quite solid, has
always been based on things other than passing emotions," he said.
Mr. Meles said he had not seen the U.S. embassy statement or the comments by
the U.S. representative at the U.N. Human Rights Council. But he said, "I
respect the rights of the United States to express its opinion on any matter
under the sun, or if they want to, even on any matter over the sun."
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