Ethiopia’s Premier, US official discuss democratization, border row

Mar 30, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — the visiting US deputy assistant secretary for Affican Affairs discussed with Ethiopian Prime Minister democratization process and the Eritrean Ethiopian border conflict.

The US deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, Donald Yamamoto, today in the afternoon held talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian TV reported.

The US official has said that his country will continue supporting Ethiopia’s efforts in democratization so as to ensure that good governance prevail in the country.

During their meeting, they discussed on ways to find a lasting solution to the Ethiopia-Eritrea problem. The assistant secretary, Yamamoto, said that his country wants lasting peace to prevail between the two countries. Hence, he said his country will continue to work on ways to further strengthen the peace process.

He also said that the US government will continue with its support to Ethiopia. He said the US government will continue with its humanitarian aid to drought-affected people.

On his part Prime Minister Meles said that his country is ready to resolve the prevailing dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea peacefully, noted a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

US administration fears that Ethiopia and Eritrea could miscalculate in their current border confrontation and resume fighting. The US wants to deny Al Qaeda bases in the Horn of Africa region. An Ethiopia-Eritrea war would destabilize the area and frustrate US counter-terror efforts. So keeping the peace here is a crucial effort in the war on terror.

Earlier in November 2005, the U.S. pressed Ethiopia to end its crackdown on independent media and to release opposition leaders detained during a week of bloody clashes between demonstrators and police, according to a statement. The U.S. also urged opposition leaders to discourage violence.

(ST)