Ethiopia ...major ally... of the United States in the region

ADDIS ABABA- The US Secretary of State, Jacob Lew, said Monday evening during a press conference in Addis Ababa that Ethiopia is ...the main ally... of his country

• The US Secretary of State, Jacob Lew, said Monday evening during a press conference in Addis Ababa that Ethiopia is “the main ally” of his country in the region, while expressing some concerns about the political situation.
  
      “I am here because Ethiopia is our main ally in the region and an important partner in development. Ethiopia plays a very strategic role in the region,” said Lew, in charge of management and resources of the Department of State.
  
      Regarding the situation in Somalia, Mr. Lew said the support of the United States in the Somali Transitional Government (TFG) and the need to help the country regain stability, while insisting that the United States are engaged in activities in line with what the countries of the region such as Ethiopia.
  
      Somalia is in civil war since 1991, and the TFG faces from early May an Islamist insurgent offensive. Ethiopia intervened in late 2006-early 2007 in Somalia to oust the Islamists from power. Its contingent was completely withdrawn at the beginning of the year.
  
      Emphasizing the deep, strong and durable relationship” between the two countries, he said between friends, we do not agree on everything, speaking about the political situation in Ethiopia.
  
      During his meeting Monday with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, he noted that the 2005 elections were good, but expressed our disorder to reduce the space for public debate, referring to the problem that this poses for the opposition and freedom of expression.
  
      “We discussed the elections in 2010 and the importance of dialogue between government and opposition parties to support these elections and the democratization process, he said, also expressing concern of his Government about the restrictions recently imposed on the activities of NGOs and associations.
  
      The 2005 elections were contested by the opposition, which caused 200 deaths according to the authorities.
  
      Several officials of the Ethiopian opposition, much divided, are in exile or in prison, including Ms. Birtukan Mideksa, president of a coalition opposition.
  
      “We have said firmly that the elections next year should be free and fair. I raised our concern about Ms. Birtukan and indicated that the case should be resolved quickly and definitively,” said Lew.
  
      Furthermore he felt that in the field of poverty reduction, Ethiopia works in a positive direction, expressing the will of the United States to reform its policy of development assistance to less food aid of emergency and more sustainable development.
  
      “Last year we provided over one billion dollars in assistance to Ethiopia, 60% for humanitarian food aid. We are trying to develop assistance for agricultural development to promote food security as a more effective approach,” he explained.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.