ETHIOPIAN PM ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT ON INSTITUTIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 000839 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF DAS YAMAMOTO AND AF/E E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN PM ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT ON INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, ADDIS CITY HANDOVER AND BORDER ¶1. SUMMARY: In a March 28 address to Parliament, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi emphasized the government's efforts to build and strengthen the parliament, the National Electoral Board (NEB) and the media; extended the deadline for opposition parties to take over the Addis Ababa city government by three weeks; and reaffirmed Ethiopia's willingness to continue dialogue on the border issue and its acceptance of the Boundary Commission's findings. Meles also highlighted the government's plans for expanding facilities and capacity in the health care, education, and environmental sectors to address the country's systemic problems of HIV/AIDS, under-education and drought. Members of opposition took to the parliament floor following the speech and questioned much of the Prime Minister's activities with regard to the Addis city administration and institutional reform. END SUMMARY. INSTITUTION BUILDING -------------- ¶2. Stating that he was drawing upon lessons from the May 2005 elections, Prime Minister Meles reported March 28 on the progress of reforming parliamentary procedures and its code of conduct, building capacity at the NEB and enhancing Ethiopia's media laws. Meles indicated that the study comparing Ethiopia's parliamentary procedures and codes of conduct to that of India, Canada, Great Britain and Germany was complete. The Prime Minister outlined his intention to share the report with all stakeholders and use it as a basis for negotiating reforms with all represented political parties. The result of these negotiations would then be sent to the parliament for consideration. Meles expressed his desire to expedite this process with an aim toward completing it in two months. ¶3. With regard to reforms at the NEB, Meles explained that international consultants had submitted a report and a plan of action would be formulated to successfully implement its objectives. Meles set a June 2006 deadline for completing the necessary NEB reforms, as constitutionally a new board must be appointed in July. ¶4. Meles acknowledged that the government's progress on media reforms has not proceeded at an adequate pace, but resolved to finalize its work by June. The Prime Minister thanked Ethiopia's development partners for "cooperation and exchange of experience" in building the institutions of a democratic system. ADDIS ABABA CITY ADMINISTRATION -------------- ¶5. Meles state that the "government has worked tirelessly to ensure that the people are governed by the people they elected. Although the opposition have not obtained enough signatures to take control the city administration within the time frame allotted, Meles announced that opposition parties would be given an additional three weeks, until April 18, to gather the required number of signatures. If successful, those elected representatives will assume responsibility for the administration of Addis and also that of its sub-cities and kebeles. If the opposition cannot gain enough signatures, the current provisional Addis administration will be dismissed and a care-taker administration comprised of professionals with a clear mandate to undertake economic and social development activities will take its place. The care-taker administration would serve for one year at which point a new election for city government would take place. BORDER -------------- ¶6. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Ethiopia's acceptance of the Boundary Commission decision and its readiness to implement the decision. However, he stated Ethiopia's "strong conviction on the need for dialogue in the implementation of the decision, as is the case in conventional practice in other countries," in order to ensure a "durable peace." Meles thanked the U.S. government for its initiative and acknowledged that the meeting in London was a positive step, even though it did not achieve a breakthrough. The Eritrean government, with its "habitual rigidity," is responsible for the lack of progress on the issue. CUD, OLF, AND OTHER ANTI-PEACE FORCES -------------- ADDIS ABAB 00000839 002 OF 003 ¶7. Likening Coalition of Unity and Democracy (CUD) activities to a failed attempt at an Ethiopian version of an "Orange Revolution," Meles proclaimed that peace and security had prevailed in the country. He warned that the violence advocated by the CUD would only disrupt the country's development, tarnish the international image of the country and create hopelessness amongst the people. Meles accused the CUD of coordinating with other anti-peace elements such as the Eritrean government, Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and existing remnants of the Derg regime. HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENT -------------- ¶8. Meles reported the government's efforts in the health, education and environment sectors. The Prime Minister announced that thousands healthcare workers have been trained and hundreds of new clinics have been opened. Seventy percent of children needing vaccinations were inoculated and 25 percent of women needing family planning services had access to it. Free medical service for those with HIV/AIDS has grown from 900 to 23,000 in the past year. Meles stated that for the first time 41 percent of the country's kebeles will have their own health clinics. ¶9. Meles cited overcrowding, poor management, lack of modern teaching tools and trained teachers as the government's primary challenges in improving education. The government plans to open 13 new universities in 2006 and will recruit experienced foreigners to assist in managing these institutions. Meles noted that broadband internet access for all of its universities is planned. Currently there are 99,560 regular students at state universities. ¶10. Reporting on severe drought in several pastoralist regions, Meles stated the government was distributing food, repairing water wells, drilling new wells, and transporting water in tankers for the 2.5 million people affected. To overcome limited implementation capacity, Meles said that the organizational structure of Afar and Somali regions would be redesigned to ensure greater efficiency and accountability. Meles stated that decision-making is being decentralized down to the woreda level to ensure wider participation of the people in development activities. OPPOSITION MPs RESPOND -------------- ¶11. Following the Prime Minister's speech, opposition party members took the floor to respond. Beyene Petros (UEDF) criticized the delay in completing the studies conducted by the foreign consultants on parliamentary procedure, the NEB and the media. Commenting on the proposal presented by the Prime Minister regarding the handover of sub-cities and kebeles administration to elected members of the Addis government, Beyene said his party would not agree since it was unconstitutional. He said the government should find a political solution to the city handover. Beyene expressed his concern about the ongoing unrest by citizens (particularly students) taking place in different parts of the country. He added that since Meles openly blamed the OLF for the disturbances, the government should open a dialogue with the organization. Regarding the health sector, Beyene said that most of the health centers he visited were not adequately equipped and do not have competent health professionals. He added that in a country where more than four million people are reported to be infected with HIV/AIDS, the process for distributing anti-retrovirals was pitiful. ¶12. Merera Gudina (UEDF) said that though Meles talked about dialogue with members of the opposition, human rights violations against opposition members worsen each day. He said Oromo National Congress (ONC) members are arrested without court order. He asked the government for a temporary administrative solution in arranging media access for opposition parties. He also noted that the government should resolve the problem with the Addis administration through dialogue. ¶13. Lidetu Ayalew (UEDP-Medhin) said he supported Meles' proposal to extend the registration time for elected members of the Addis administration. In the event of a new election for the Addis government, Lidetu said that elections should only be held for those not wishing to take their seat versus ADDIS ABAB 00000839 003 OF 003 a complete election for all seats. Lidetu noted that the basic problems that resulted in the election-related confrontation, such as vote rigging, and harassment, intimidation and detention of opposition members, had not yet been addressed. He concluded by criticizing the NEB for its bias and lack of professionalism and commented that the organization is too close to the ruling party. ¶14. Two other members of the opposition raised concerns after the Prime Minister's speech. Temesgin Zewdie (CUDP) stated that the elected members of the Addis administration could not meet freely to discuss taking over the city government. Negasso Gidada (independent) expressed his concerns about ongoing student unrest and warned that it could easily get out of hand. HUDDLESTON