Plan for an International Symposium on War, Peace, and Democracy in Ethiopia

In an attempt to express the outrage of Ethiopians on the secret negotiations currently underway by the TPLF and EPLF leaders to conclude a settlement without involving the public, to directly promote the voices of the rank and file of Ethiopians with the international community through the UN, the OAU, the European Union and other relevant world bodies and governments, and to mobilize Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia at home and abroad, the ENC is launching a petition-signature drive and a two-day international symposium entitled "International Symposium on War, Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia." Details of the signature-petition campaign will be released under a separate statement shortly.

The symposium is planned to bring together Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia, including historians, lawyers, politicians, diplomats and others. Its purpose is to deliberate on the ways and means of promoting lasting peace, democracy and sustainable socio-economic development in the region of the Horn of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia.

The symposium will be held around the Washington, DC area as early as September 15 but no later than October 1, 2000. Attempts will be made to hold the symposium concurrently in London and in Addis Ababa as well. All will be open to the public. The symposium will conclude with a public forum in a "town hall" format, during which highlights of the issues will be presented so that participants will air their views and discuss them further.

It is expected that papers to be presented at the symposium will address the following broad topics:

• Negotiations between Shabia and Woyane: Can we expect them to bring about lasting peace and democracy to Ethiopia and the region?

• Does the Meles government have the moral right and political fortitude to seek and achieve a just, equitable, and fair peace treaty, after it has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not have Ethiopia's national interests at heart?

• A fair and equitable perspective on Ethiopia's legitimate right of sovereign access to the sea and sustainable peace and security in the region. Should Ethiopia's right of access to the sea be negotiable at all?

• A historical perspective and assessment of the question of Assab: What historical precedents and international law and practice support Ethiopia's rights to access the sea?

• The economic, political, and national security implications of a lack of access to the sea to Ethiopia's future and its survival as a nation.

• Economic and political interests and aspirations of the Afars: What needs to be done now to preserve and promote their consistently expressed interest to remain united as part of Ethiopia?

• Ways to preserve and ensure that the recent military victory of the Ethiopian armed forces serves Ethiopia's long-term interests.

• Accountability and punishment of those responsible for provoking a senseless war that killed and dislocated hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians.

• Steps for preserving Ethiopia's vital and long-term national security, geopolitical and economic interests.

Long Live Ethiopia's Sovereignty!

The Executive Committee,
July 30, 2000

THE ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
http://www.EthiopianNationalCongress.org/