From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Tue Jun 30 2009 - 17:01:43 EDT
US Looks to Expand Development Aid to Strategic Partner Ethiopia
By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa
30 June 2009
The Obama administration is signaling its intention to keep Ethiopia as a
key strategic partner, despite concerns about the country's slide toward
authoritarianism. The United States is seeking to expand development
assistance to the Ethiopian government.
Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew is making his first trip to East Africa
at a time of increasing regional instability.
The United States last week announced it had sent a $10-million shipment of
weapons to help shore up the besieged government of Somalia, while accusing
neighboring Eritrea of being behind violence aimed at undermining the Somali
peace process.
Regional power Ethiopia sent troops in 2006 to prop up the fragile
government in Mogadishu, but pulled them out earlier this year, and has
expressed a reluctance to return without strong backing from the
international community.
Secretary Lew's stop in Addis Ababa included an hour-long talk with
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Afterward, he told reporters the
United States sees Ethiopia as an important strategic ally.
"The deep relationship between the United States and Ethiopia is based on a
number of shared values, shared concerns," said Lew. "The strategic
relationship remains a very important one, and we value it. I think it is
mutually valued by the government of Ethiopia and the government of the
United States."
"So I think we look to a future where we will be able to continue to work
together not on just fighting common forces in the world that we think are a
threat to each of us, but on a broader agenda where we can make a lasting
difference in the quality of life in the life of the Ethiopian people, and
by analogy people in many other countries to which we provide foreign
assistance," he added.
The United States last year gave more than $1 billion in aid to Ethiopia,
most of it in emergency food assistance, and practically all the rest in
programs to fight HIV/AIDS and Malaria. Lew says the Obama administration is
looking to broaden the program to include development aid.
"The form assistance that has become the predominant form of assistance is
provision of emergency food supplies," he said. "We think there need to be
increased resources available and an increased share of resources going into
sustainable development."
While maintaining the deep bilateral relationship, Secretary Lew says the
Obama administration is worried about what is seen as a "closing of
political space" in Ethiopia since the controversial 2005 elections. During
his talk with Prime Minister Meles, Lew says he made a point of raising the
issue of imprisoned Ethiopian opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa.
"I reinforced our concern that the matter be resolved quickly and finally,"
he said.
Lew says he also expressed concern about two laws recently passed by
Ethiopia's parliament, one restricting activities of foreign-funded
non-governmental organizations, the other limiting press freedom.
"The concerns we raised were the issues of openness that relate to NGOs and
freedom of expression remain concerns to us," he said. "We made that point
clear again."
Lew said his discussions with Prime Minister Meles also touched on a
proposed new anti-terrorism law. The group Human Rights Watch issued a
statement Tuesday saying the draft law could define criticism of the
government as a "terrorist act" and be used to crack down on the opposition.
By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa
30 June 2009
The Obama administration is signaling its intention to keep Ethiopia as a
key strategic partner, despite concerns about the country's slide toward
authoritarianism. The United States is seeking to expand development
assistance to the Ethiopian government.
Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew is making his first trip to East Africa
at a time of increasing regional instability.
The United States last week announced it had sent a $10-million shipment of
weapons to help shore up the besieged government of Somalia, while accusing
neighboring Eritrea of being behind violence aimed at undermining the Somali
peace process.
Regional power Ethiopia sent troops in 2006 to prop up the fragile
government in Mogadishu, but pulled them out earlier this year, and has
expressed a reluctance to return without strong backing from the
international community.
Secretary Lew's stop in Addis Ababa included an hour-long talk with
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Afterward, he told reporters the
United States sees Ethiopia as an important strategic ally.
"The deep relationship between the United States and Ethiopia is based on a
number of shared values, shared concerns," said Lew. "The strategic
relationship remains a very important one, and we value it. I think it is
mutually valued by the government of Ethiopia and the government of the
United States."
"So I think we look to a future where we will be able to continue to work
together not on just fighting common forces in the world that we think are a
threat to each of us, but on a broader agenda where we can make a lasting
difference in the quality of life in the life of the Ethiopian people, and
by analogy people in many other countries to which we provide foreign
assistance," he added.
The United States last year gave more than $1 billion in aid to Ethiopia,
most of it in emergency food assistance, and practically all the rest in
programs to fight HIV/AIDS and Malaria. Lew says the Obama administration is
looking to broaden the program to include development aid.
"The form assistance that has become the predominant form of assistance is
provision of emergency food supplies," he said. "We think there need to be
increased resources available and an increased share of resources going into
sustainable development."
While maintaining the deep bilateral relationship, Secretary Lew says the
Obama administration is worried about what is seen as a "closing of
political space" in Ethiopia since the controversial 2005 elections. During
his talk with Prime Minister Meles, Lew says he made a point of raising the
issue of imprisoned Ethiopian opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa.
"I reinforced our concern that the matter be resolved quickly and finally,"
he said.
Lew says he also expressed concern about two laws recently passed by
Ethiopia's parliament, one restricting activities of foreign-funded
non-governmental organizations, the other limiting press freedom.
"The concerns we raised were the issues of openness that relate to NGOs and
freedom of expression remain concerns to us," he said. "We made that point
clear again."
Lew said his discussions with Prime Minister Meles also touched on a
proposed new anti-terrorism law. The group Human Rights Watch issued a
statement Tuesday saying the draft law could define criticism of the
government as a "terrorist act" and be used to crack down on the opposition.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----