Ethiopia’s Zenawi says opposition hinders democratization

Feb 2, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said the process of democracy building in Ethiopia goes on unperturbed in spite of attempts of opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) extremist leaders to detract the path.

The ongoing democratization in the country is moving on as implementation of the main works to safeguard the path from sabotage get well under way, Meles said in his report to the House of Peoples Representatives, the official ENA reported.

He said the plan to create up-to-the-standard democratic institutions and laws is being implemented smoothly with the support of foreign consultants. A group of experts from Canada, UK, Germany and India has already submitted its first report of the planned review of the procedures and ethic guideline of the House of Peoples Representatives, Meles said.

He said efforts have got well under way to get another planned study on the press law by consultants from these four countries. A contract is expected to be concluded with the prospective consultants soon to launch the study in the coming two or three weeks, Meles indicated.

Similarly, Meles said, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) was employing foreign consultants, who would launch studies enabling to build its execution capacity in the coming one or two weeks.

Meles indicated the need to see the culture of democracy to blossom side by side with the decisive works of building democratic institutions and to continually improving their workings-on towards strengthening the democratization.

All should operate under the supremacy of the rule of law, Meles said, adding political parties have significant roles to play towards creating such a democratic system. The ruling party, Meles said, had had dialogues with UEDF (United Ethiopian Democratic Forces) and OFDM (Oromo Federal Democratic Movement) and after a series of meetings it was possible to arrive at agreement on detailed agenda and procedures.

He said efforts were made to help those who were in the group called CUDP, but who joined parliament rejecting the extremist leaders, to take up their deserved place in the house and also to organize.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi asked the house to give him additional time to come up with a final settlement of the issue of the pending case related to the administration of the Addis Ababa government.

So far 89 seats of the house has been taken up by those elected from the opposition parties, including Lidetu Ayalew, after they had run elections under CUDP.

The Premier’s report was endorsed with 364 votes for, 112 against and 19 abstentions, after House members held in-depth discussions on it.

(ENA/ST)