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Rebels in Ethiopia ask for peace talks after Challenges Facing Memebrs of ONLF in Ethiopia
Ogaden Community elders and clan leaders have requested the
Government for its readiness to hold discussions with
ONLF to support its efforts and help it realize its peace
initiatives
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seyoum Mesfin held a consultative meeting with European Union Ambassadors based in Addis Ababa here yesterday.
The Ministry told ENA that the meeting is part of the continued political consultations between Ethiopian and the European Union in line with the Cotonou Protocol.
Seyoum has also briefed the European Ambassadors on agendas they raised focusing on national and regional affairs.
" The Somalis will make up their own minds," Kibaki told reporters in Addis Ababa, when asked if Kenya would send peacekeepers to Somalia. "It is Somalia who will decide on their own country."
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| GEESKA AFRIKA ONLINE & HAN:
Managing Editor/Publisher: Nur Kafi |
| GEESKA
AFRIKA ONLINE DAILY NEWS AND VIEWS
han@geeskaafrika.com |
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 Challenges Facing
Members of ONLF in Ethiopia
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Dr.Abdullahi Mohamed (Deputy Editor Geeska Afrika
Online)
Djibouti (HAN) July 21, 2005  Radio-Her
statements triggered
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"President Hosni Mubarak
received Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin and his accompanying delegation who conveyed a message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Melez Zenawi.
Mesfin, in statements, said Zenawi stressed in his message that the Ethiopian government is committed to cement cooperation with Egypt in all fields, particularly in trade and investment.
He said he discussed with President Mubarak the developments of the crisis in Somalia, the dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea and stability in the Horn of Africa region.
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Challenges Facing
Members of ONLF in Ethiopia
Djibouti (HAN) July 21, 2005--Ogaden Clan based Rebels in the
Somali Zone of Ethiopia ask for peace talk with the Ethiopian
Federal Government troops after Challenges Facing Members of ONLF in
the Somali national regional State.
Any ONLF and Ethiopian deal may be in significant in that it may take away
the reason f the ONLF militia to target Somali zone civilians in
Fiq, Raaso, Godey and Degahbour zones. The ONLF's human rights record
criticized by the Human Rights Watch for illegal killings, torture and
lootings of Somali zone cities and villages.
Ogaden Community elders and clan leaders have requested the Government for its readiness to hold discussions with
ONLF to support its efforts and help it realize its peace initiatives, the Ministry said in a statement.
It said that the Prime Minister communicated back with a written response in which he said the Federal
Government commends that community elders and clan leaders have taken a peaceful initiative and this
would enable to strengthen peace in the area and make the people beneficiaries of good governance and
development.
"The consensus view seems to be that militarily the
ONLF are more or less irrelevant, but have enough of a
presence to prevent the government from eliminating
them," Human Rights Watch researcher Chris Albin Lackey told Reuters.
Ethiopia has long blamed the ONLF for attacking
government troops "The government responded positively to the call of
the ONLF provided that the party would be true to its expressed readiness to further its objectives only
through peaceful means," the Foreign Ministry said in
a statement.
Ethiopia has long blamed the ONLF for attacking government troops in the area and human rights groups
say the army has retaliated by intimidating the local population.
"The consensus view seems to be that militarily the ONLF are more or less irrelevant, but have enough of a
presence to prevent the government from eliminating them," Human Rights Watch researcher Chris
Albin-Lackey told Reuters.
"Any deal may be significant in that it may take away the reason or pretext of the military to target
civilians." Ethiopia's human rights record - criticized by the United States for illegal killings, torture and
arbitrary arrests - has come under increasing scrutiny after post-election protests sparked a security
crackdown that killed 36 people in June.
Gov't willing to support peaceful,
constitutional activities of ONLF
By Ministry of Federal Affairs
The Ministry of Federal Affairs disclosed that Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), expressing
willingness to exert efforts for peace by operating in full recognition and compliance with the constitution,
has asked the Government to support it.
The Ministry said the Government responded positively to the call of the ONLF provided that the party would
be true to its expressed readiness to further its objectives only through peaceful means and in
adherence to the constitution.
Community elders and clan leaders have requested the Government for its readiness to hold
discussions with ONLF to support its efforts and help it realize its
peace initiatives, the Ministry said in a statement. It said that the Prime Minister communicated back with
a written response in which he said the Federal Government commends that community elders and clan
leaders have taken a peaceful initiative and this would enable to strengthen peace in the area and make
the people beneficiaries of good governance and development.
The Prime Minister in his letter assured that the Federal Government will support the peaceful efforts
of the elders and clan chiefs consulting with the party officials both in the country and abroad.
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