Africa in a journey to realize unity in diversity – Ethiopia’s Zenawi
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
December 16, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – The fifth International Conference on Federalism, which has been held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, concluded on Thursday drawing valuable lessons from expert analysis and shared experience from participant states of their common endeavors.
The four-day conference on federalism held under the theme “Equality and unity in diversity for development” is the first global conference to be held in Africa since its initiation in 1999 in Canada.
At the closing session, Ethiopian Prime minister, Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia and in general African countries have learned valuable lessons from what he said were ‘instructive debates and discussions’ held at this year’s conference on federalism.
“When we host this international conference, our hope was Ethiopians from all wakes off life would get the opportunity to learn from experiences of federalism elsewhere to share the challenges with experts and partners around the world and learn valuable lessons to continuously refine and improve the system of governance,” the Ethiopian premier told conferees at the closing ceremony in ECA (Economic Commission for Africa) hall.
“We have indeed learned valuable lessons that would help us improve our federal system from the lively discussions also of the 45 papers on federalism presented at the conference.”
Zenawi said that the conference first ever held in the African continent, will offer African leaders the opportunity to review the concepts on federalism and benefits that would accrue via their diversity.
“The conference would help countries outside Africa to understand that African countries are coming back on a journey to define democracy and federalism in a manner that could effectively address the main concept,” Zenawi added.
He further said that a continuous increase in participants from Africa and experiences being added from Africa has made the conference to have a certain African character and the frank exchange of views in this regard.
The conference which brought together over 600 delegates including African leaders, politicians, experts, civil society organizations and think-tanks aimed to tackle five major topics: Federalism and democratization process, Unity in Diversity through Federalism; Federalism and Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Mechanisms; fiscal Federalism and Equitable Development.
The conference has offered a lesson that federalism countries embrace hospitable framework for democratization and development especially in societies with diversity, said a communiqué released at the end of the conference.
Africa via such conference is seeking a fresh path to realize good governance and federalism to tackle wide ranging crises such as civil wars, corruption and instability, it further stressed.
Presidents Omer Al-Bashir of Sudan, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Abdoulaye Mohammed Abdoulaye of Somalia and the Prime Minister of Tanzania, Mizengo Peter Pinda were among other African senior delegations from 48 countries and federations across the world.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has held, on the sidelines of the conference, a separate discussion with Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir, who also proposed that his country hosts next conference on federalism.
Zenawi discussed with Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir bilateral and mutual concerns. He has also conferred with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Somali Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulahi
Meles and Mohammed Abdulahi exchanged on current security situation in Somalia and other common concerns. The Somali PM assured Meles that his new cabinet would effectively carry out responsibility to improve the security situation. Meles reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to support his government to bring lasting peace in the war torn nation.
(ST)