From: Yared Tesfay (ytmn2@yahoo.co.uk)
Date: Tue Jan 26 2010 - 07:20:32 EST
The U.K. chapter of Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front
(EPPF) held a meeting in London
Sunday, 24 January 2010
The U.K. chapter of Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front (EPPF) held a historic meeting in London Sunday, January 24 where for the first time Ethiopians and Eritreans came together under one roof to discuss about their common interests.
The public meeting was called
in line with a resolution passed by the October 2009 EPPF conference
that was held in the field, which calls on chapters to organize people to people meetings around the world. The October conference was attended by EPPF
executive and central committee members, and representatives of
chapters from the U.S. and Europe.
EPPF London meeting
EPPF UK Chapter executive committee
member Alemayehu Mengesha opened Sunday's meeting with a brief
welcoming speech. Ato Ayele Angelo, former member of Kinijit Central
Committee, delivered the keynote address. Representing the EPPF U.K.,
Ato Sileshi Tilahun talked about the organization's aims, current
activities, Ethiopia-Eritrea relations, and the upcoming elections in
Ethiopia.
Other guest speakers included Dr
Wondimu Mekonnen, a prominent Ethiopian civil rights activist; General
Tamene Dilnesaw, former Ethiopian ambassador in Israel and military
attache in the former East Bloc countries; LiqeMemher Abebaw Yigzaw, a
senior Ethiopian church scholar, and Wzr. Sabra Mohamed, a community
activist. They delivered a message of support to EPPF.
EPPF meeting in London, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010
Representatives of the Ogaden National
Liberation Front (ONLF), Ato Mustefa Abdella; the Sidama Liberation
Front (SLF), Ato Betenan Hotesu; and from the Eritrean community,
Dr
Bereket Fesehatsion and Ato Seyoum Tsegai, delivered solidarity
messages during the meeting. OLF representative could not attend the
meeting due to a schedule conflict, but
sent a message of solidarity in
writing to EPPF-UK.
Sunday's EPPF meeting in London was broadcast live around the world via Ethiopian Review's newly opened paltalk room. The room will be opened every Sunday from 3:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern U.S. Time
The EPPF Washington Metro Chapter will hold a similar meeting in February. Details will be posted shortly.