From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sun Mar 22 2009 - 08:18:18 EST
US-Ethiopia relations a delicate balancing act: Shinn
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Saturday, 21 March 2009
ImageBY A Staff Reporter
Ethiopia will be a very important African ally to the United States on a
number of issues, and the US will look for its support. However, maintaining
that alliance will be a delicate balancing act, a former US Ambassador to
Ethiopia said.
According to David Shinn, who now is an adjunct professor, Elliott School of
International Affairs, The George Washington University, the challenge lies
in U.S. policy and its outlook towards human rights issues in Ethiopia and
the pace of democratization.
Putting pressure on Ethiopia will become increasingly difficult for the
United States and other western countries as Ethiopia continues to
strengthen its relations with countries such as China and Russia, according
to Shinn.
"Ethiopia has been a good ally of the United States on a number of issues
while it offers challenges for U.S. policy concerning its human rights
practices and the pace of democratization. As a result, U.S. policy towards
Ethiopia since the current government took power in 1991 has always been a
delicate balancing act. This will continue to be the case," Shinn said
during a testimony before a Congress sub-committee last week.
Shinn pointed out Ethiopia was important to the US as a strong supporter of
counter-terrorism in the region, and its role in stability and peacekeeping
operations in the region and beyond.
"Although in my view, both the United States and Ethiopia followed a
misguided policy in Somalia, they did it together. It is just not possible
to ignore the helpful role of Ethiopia on regional issues that are important
to the United States. In addition, the Meles Zenawi government has
established a solid economic track record for which it does not receive much
credit," he said.
U.S. policy must continue to balance the need for Ethiopia's cooperation on
regional issues with its desire to influence positively the human rights
situation and democratization process in the country.
In line with a State Department human rights report released late last
month, Shinn raised issues related "periodic large-scale arrests of
political dissidents, harassment of the private press and a reluctance to
permit civil society groups to engage in advocacy work. The new act covering
charities and non-governmental organizations places severe restrictions on
their ability to conduct advocacy work."
"Democratization in Ethiopia experienced a major setback following the 2005
national elections. Although the election process began well, it ended
badly. The political opposition must take some responsibility for the
violence that followed the election, but ultimately the government is
responsible for preventing violence and maintaining credibility in the
electoral system," he said.
Immediately after the release of the human rights report, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs issued a strong reaction describing it as a "deliberately
jaundiced view of Ethiopia's progress in human rights."
"This report, deliberately and consistently, minimizes and denigrates any
advances. It is carefully written to disparage. The aim is to find fault,
and that is never difficult to do. No one is perfect; Guantanamo Bay springs
to mind. The litany of allegations in this report doesn't represent reality.
It does not show any pattern of violation or policy direction. It is no more
than a collection of unsubstantiated accusations from groups seeking to
undermine Ethiopia's process of democratization."
