From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Tue Jun 09 2009 - 14:51:24 EDT
Party founder addresses Ethiopia's political transition
By Addisu Abebe
Washington DC
09/06/2009
A founder of the Tigray People's Liberation Front and former high official
of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, Sebhat Nega
visited VOA's Washington studios and gave an exclusive interview about
current Ethiopian affairs, his political career since joining the armed
struggle in 1975, and Ethiopia's future.
Sebhat is a member of parliament and president of the International
Institute for Peace and Development.He previously served as chair of EFFORT,
a mullti-million dollar corporation engaged in agriculture, trade and
construction and development projects.He was interviewed by Addisu Abebe of
the Amharic service and Betre Siltan of the Tigrigna service.
The questions covered the nation's controversial draft anti-terrorism bill,
the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ethiopia's increased power in the Horn
of Africa, the quality of Horn of Africa broadcasting about Ethiopia, the
return of Eriteans expelled during the border war, and whether Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi will run for office in 2010.
"We're in a transition to a new generation of leaders," Sebhat said."Whether
Meles will be replaced by that newgeneration, we'll just have to wait and
see."
The interviews will be broadcast on VOA's Horn of Africa services starting
Tuesday.