Ethiopia’s ruling EPRDF, 2 opposition forces agree to discuss national issues

Feb 16, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and the opposition Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) have reached agreement to discuss on various national issues.

In a joint press statement to the official ENA, the three parties said they have reached an agreement on six major agenda items for discussion as well as the rule of procedure at a meeting they held on Monday 13 February 2006.

Accordingly, the statement said, the parties have agreed to discuss on agenda items such as the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, Mass Media, Parliamentarians’ Code of Conduct as well as on ways in which political parties could get financial support from government on the basis of studies conducted and that will be conducted in the future.

More over, the statement said, the three parties have agreed to discuss on the respect of constitutional provisions and the supremacy of law, capacity building of parliamentarians and other related issues.

The discussions on the agreed up on agenda items would be chaired by persons from the three parties in a round.

The three parties have agreed to publicize the outcomes of the discussion.

(ENA/ST)