Ethiopia slams proposed US aid cuts

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

October 5, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia said the proposed bill of aid sanction is irresponsible and doesn’t really reflect what is on the ground.

In an interview with foreign Medias Ethiopian ambassador to the US Samuel Assefa said “the legislation undermines regional stability in the horn of Africa by jeopardizing vital security cooperation between the United States and Ethiopia”

He said if “the irresponsible legislation” becomes law, “it would create fresh obstacles to Ethiopia’s dedicated efforts toward comprehensive democratic reforms”.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act, which demands Washington’s top counter-terrorism partner in the Horn of Africa make a host of democratic changes or face security aid cuts.

Ethiopia strongly argues that the proposed bill is a big threat to regional stability and its close military ties with the US to tackle terrorism and to bring US backed government in the war ravaged neighboring Somalia.

In a press conference yesterday prime Minster Meles zenawi said “the draft law will not affect ties with Washington”

But Meles criticized the bill’s sponsor, democratic congress man Donald Payne

“If this man is really concerned about human right violations, he should talk about human right situations in Eritrea not Ethiopia Meles said.”

In July Ethiopia pardoned nearly all of those convicted four days after their sentencing. Samuel said the presence of two pardoned opposition leaders at U.S. congressional hearings was proof of Ethiopia’s democratic commitment.

The draft bill, which still needs U.S. Senate approval and a presidential signature, would also deny U.S. entry visas to any Ethiopian government official involved in what it calls human rights violations, unless the president authorized a waiver.

It is yet unclear how much aid would be cut if the bill is approved.

(ST)