Ethiopia: Donors attempt to start government-opposition dialogue

Dec 5, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ambassadors of donor countries stationed in Ethiopia have started a new dialogue initiative between the ruling coalition and the opposition parties.

According to the Addis Ababa based the Reporter newspaper, the ambassadors of donor countries have started a new initiative to continue with the previous discussions on the political situation in Ethiopia initiated by the consul of the US embassy, Ambassador Vic Holston, together with other ambassadors from donor countries from Europe.

It was learnt that, based on the new initiative, an invitation letter was sent to opposition leaders for a meeting at the US embassy next Wednesday 7 December.

However, since leaders of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and that of the Oromo Federal Democratic Movement had said that they do not have the desire to enter into dialogue with the government when leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy are still in detention, some say that there is a fear that the opposition leaders’ stance will hinder the ambassadors new initiative.

Merara Gudina, the deputy chairman of UEDF, was asked about the issue but said that he was only aware of the meeting and nothing else.

(The Reporter/ST)