Ethiopia pledges 5,000 peacekeepers to Darfur mission

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

October 4, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Ethiopia on Thursday said it will contribute 5,000 troops to the proposed 26,000 joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan’s war torn Darfur region.

“Ethiopia is ready, the troops are equipped, and we are waiting for a request from the AU and the United Nations to disperse the troops to Darfur,” Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told in a news conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The 26,000-strong joint mission is to replace a hard-pressed AU force that lacks experience, equipment and cash and has been unable to stop the conflict.

During the press conference German chancellor Angela merkel said “Ethiopia must bring political openness, democracy and developed human right situation”

Conflict in Sudan, Somalia, and the Eth-Eritrea situation were core issues of discussion between the two leaders. Other point of discussions included economic ties, health and investment.

Prime Minster Meles called on German citizens and companies to invest in Ethiopia. He said ”any foreign investor will be treated as equal as any citizen”

The chancellor has pledged to boost Germany’s aid to Ethiopia to support under going developmental activities in Ethiopia.

Angela Merkel has also hold talks with President Girma Woldegiorgis on bilateral,regional and international issues.

The German chancellor congratulated Ethiopian people over the new millennium and she planted a seed ling tree at the national palace as part of the “two trees for 2,000 project”

Merkel arrived in Addis Ababa late on Wednesday on a firest leg
Africa tour for a two-day official working visit in Ethiopia.

she is leaving for South Africa tonight.

While African nations have pledged more than enough infantry for the joint force, its future leader, new AU force commander Martin Luther Agwai, said this week few African armies had enough troops that met U.N. standards.

Some 200,000 people are estimated to have died in the fighting and an ensuing humanitarian crisis.

(ST)