Ethiopia exerts efforts to have good image – minister

April 3, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian Ministry of Information said building good image of the country to correct “distorted reports” by opposition and foreign media about the country.

In a speech before the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) on Thursday, the minister of information Berhan Hailu told the Ethiopia lawmakers that his ministry necessary efforts to respond to reports meant to tarnish the good faces of the country.

Berhan said the ministry releases statements on the position of the government and organises press conference to foreign journalists in order to inform them in various issues.

Also the inofrmation ministry is deploying national journalists in various parts of Ethiopia to report the existing reality, he said.

Jijiga, Degehabour, Gode towns and the Ethio-Eritrea border area were among the areas where journalists were deployed.

He also said the ministry of information has been responding with its full capacity to foreign reports hostile to the government. The Ethiopian embassies abroad are playing an important role to disseminate the government’s position he added.

The Ethiopian opposition, despite its weakness by its own divisions, has lobbied the some US Congress members to condemn Prime Minister Zenawi’s government as tyrannical.

A bill passed by the House of Representatives last year called for curbs on aid to Ethiopia, but is unlikely to be passed by the Senate. But till now much of noises is made about the bad human rights record of the ruling party.

Also, Asmara which continues its war by proxy against Addis Ababa, embraces the opposition groups and shows willingness to the Somalis Islamists who are fighting the Ethiopian backed Somali transitional government.

Also Ethiopia is expected to run local elections this month. International observers monitor the situation and keeping in mind the fierce repression following May 2005 elections.

With regard to the use of mass media by political parties, Berhan said that the political parties are using air time and news paper pages to promote their political programs in accordance with the allocation made by the National Electoral Board.

The political parties are promoting their political programs not only on federal but also on regional media outlets, the Minister said.

However, violating the regulation given by the electoral board and lack of readiness to use the air time and news paper pages are among the problems witnessed so far in the process.

(ST)