Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc for Peace and Prosperity- www.globalbelai4u.blogspot.com
CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA ON ETHIOPIA'S SECOND MILLENNIUM -- (House of Representatives - November 05, 2007)
Re: Ethiopia an island of Good Governance in a Sea of Terrorist Sharks
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens against Teror and Friends of Ethiopia.
It is becoming evident that Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia have a unique role in this Millennium, this century to project the interest of Ethiopia across the world, be it at the UN, AU, Europe, Asia or North America.
The recent report of the UN Secretary General and US Congress is a case in point.
The most critical part of global communication is to be aware of all the facts on the ground and around the world.
The following report of the Secretary General of the UN, US Congress and reports from the Horn is critical to our understanding of events both positive and negative in the region.
As she has done for Millennia, Ethiopia is continuing to be the Island of Good Goverenance in a sea of civil strife and chaos. It takes a highly organized and vigialnt stakeholders to promote the real picture of the region and Ethiopia's special role in it.
Here is an interesting story for us to review and I seek your perspective and your active involvement.
Dr B
1. No link available.
2. http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=608543
3. http://africa.reuters.com/country/SO/news/usnL08091658.html
1. Selection from the Report. Full report is in the attached PDF file
II. Situation in the Temporary Security Zone and
adjacent areas
2. The military situation in the Temporary Security Zone and adjacent areas remained tense during the reporting period. Eritrea has maintained troops and heavy military equipment, including tanks in the Zone since October 2006.
The Ethiopian troops and heavy equipment that were deployed in areas adjacent to the Zone at that time have remained in position. During the reporting period, Eritrea inducted additional military personnel and equipment into the Zone and both countries
conducted rotations, training and troop regroupment of their forces in the border
area.
3. The Eritrean Defence Forces personnel have continued the construction of new
defences inside the Temporary Security Zone, including in close proximity to Badme. In this connection, UNMEE observed a number of new camps of Eritrean Defence Forces erected in Sector West and Sector Centre. The Eritrean Defence Forces also conducted troop rotations in Sector Centre and Subsector East, as well as a gradual replacement of the militia manning posts in the Zone by regularr
military personnel.
4. Since early September, a large number of Eritrean Defence Forces, heavy
military equipment and ammunition have been deployed to the Temporary Security
Zone and the areas adjacent to it. According to UNMEE estimates, during September and October, Eritrea moved an estimated 1,000 additional troops, 10 heavy machine guns and five truckloads of small arms ammunition into the Zone in Sector Centre, bringing the total number of troops inducted into that sector since December 2006 to more than 2,580 military personnel. On 16 October, UNMEE confirmed the presence of three Eritrean artillery pieces inside the Zone near Tsorena in Sector Centre. As regards Subsector East, the strength of Eritrean
S/2007/645
2 07-56950
Defence Forces inducted into the Zone in that area is now approximately 600 military personnel. In Sector West, Eritrea inducted approximately 2,025 military personnel into the Zone in October this year, in addition to some 2,000 troops, tanks and artillery, which had been inducted into that Sector in October 2006. Continued Eritrean restrictions have not made it possible for the Mission to monitor all Eritrean troop movements and deployments in the Zone.
As underlined in my earlier reports to the Council, the continued presence and
deployment of Eritrean Defence Forces and heavy military equipment inside the Zone constitute direct violations of the Algiers Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities of 18 June 2000.
5. During the reporting period, the Ethiopian Armed Forces conducted training and reinforced defences, including in areas around Badme, and carried out live firing exercises, involving personal and automatic weapons in Sector Centre and Sector West. The Ethiopian Armed Forces have continued to deploy a strategic reserve force in Sector West.
UNMEE observed that Ethiopian forces redeployed some 14 armoured personnel carriers and 18 medium artillery guns in the locations of the three mechanized divisions in Sectors Centre and West, approximately 20 to 30 km south of the areas adjacent to the Temporary Security Zone.
A further 39 armoured personnel carriers were observed moving to the mechanized ormations deployed in Sector West. In addition, from 1 to 10 October, UNMEE observed the Ethiopian Armed Forces deploying a total of 22 T-55 tanks and one armoured ecovery vehicle in adjacent areas in Sector Center approximately 10 km from the one. The Ethiopian Armed Forces stated to UNMEE that the deployment had been undertaken in response to the presence of 30 tanks that the Eritrean Defence Forces had located some 15 km from the border of the Zone. UNMEE could not independently verify that allegation because of existing Eritrean restrictions.
In the meantime, Ethiopian Armed Forces tanks and artillery guns observed in the area of Bure in Subsector East earlier this year had been pulled back south of the adjacent area.
6. Although the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea have repeatedly stated that they
do not intend to initiate hostilities, the build-up of the forces on both sides of the border area is a cause of serious concern. In this connection, on 15 September,
Ethiopian authorities alleged that an Eritrean sniper fired at Ethiopian troops in the area of Zela Ambessa, in Sector Centre, and wounded an Ethiopian soldier.
Eritrean commanders denied knowledge of the incident. Another shooting incident between Eritrean and Ethiopian forces allegedly took place in the same area on 8 October.
7. During the reporting period, UNMEE continued to assist the parties with investigations into cross-border incidents, including reports of cattle rustling. The
Mission also facilitated the repatriation of Ethiopian and Eritrean civilians who
inadvertently had crossed the border.
______________
Source: AFP
Nov 08, 2007
2. Islamists vow to fight Ethiopia
ASMARA - A top Somalian opposition leader has vowed to fight until the withdrawal of all Ethiopian troops, ruling out peace talks with the transitional government.
"It is our belief that every individual in Somalia has to participate in the resistance and the defeat of the Ethiopian occupation," Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told AFP in the Eritrean capital.
"The more time goes by, the more Ethiopia will be resisted by the people, and they will be disliked by the international community because they are not carrying out what they said they will do," he said.
"They will become more isolated and have more failure in Somalia," he said.
Sheikh Sharif is chairman of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS), an Islamist-dominated opposition coalition formed in September.
He was a top leader of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which briefly controlled large parts of Somalia before being ousted by government forces and Ethiopian troops earlier this year.
The armed branch of the ICU - accused by Washington of links to Al-Qaeda - and their tribal allies have since waged a guerrilla-style war in Mogadishu, targeting Somali and Ethiopian troops.
The violence has crippled Somalia’s ailing economy, left hundreds dead and forced tens of thousands to flee Mogadishu, fuelling popular resentment against the Ethiopian presence.
Sheikh Sharif ruled out talks with either Ethiopia or Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.
"As long as the Ethiopian action in Somalia is to kill Somalis and make orerocities, then there is nothing to talk about with Ethiopia," he said.
"As far as the Abdullahi Yusuf clique is concerned, they have no authority they are only a puppet of the Ethiopians, and as long as that situation prevails there is no question of negotiation with them."
Since the ouster of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has had no central authority and defied several initiatives aimed at ending bloody tribal feuds and restoring stability.
__________
3. Somali pirates holding tanker send Japan demands
Thu 8 Nov 2007
Joseph Sudah
NAIROBI, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Somali pirates who hijacked a Japanese-owned chemical tanker two weeks ago off the Horn of Africa have sent demands to the Japanese government, a maritime official said on Thursday.
"There is still no good news ... the demands were made in secret to Japan's government," Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme told Reuters, adding he had no further details.
Pirates from Somalia -- who have made waters off their coastline among the most dangerous in the world -- typically want ransoms paid to free seized ships. Japanese officials were not immediately available to comment.
The Panamanian-flagged Golden Nori was carrying benzene when it was attacked about eight nautical miles offshore on Oct. 28.
Giving a first detailed breakdown of its crew, Mwangura said there were 12 sailors from Myanmar, nine from the Philippines and two South Koreans on board. Their conditions were not known.
The U.S. Navy said one of its warships opened fire at the attackers on Oct. 30, sinking the small speedboats the pirates had used to raid the tanker out at sea.
Earlier this week, Somali pirates released two South Korean ships and a Taiwanese vessel they captured in May. Along with the Golden Nori, they are still believed to be holding a cargo ship registered in Comoros.
Piracy has been rife off Somalia since warlords toppled military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Many of the pirates claim to be "coastguards" protecting their waters against illegal fishing and the dumping of toxic waste. (Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens against Teror and Friends of Ethiopia.
It is becoming evident that Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia have a unique role in this Millennium, this century to project the interest of Ethiopia across the world, be it at the UN, AU, Europe, Asia or North America.
The recent report of the UN Secretary General and US Congress is a case in point.
We have been waiting for such a long time for the US Congress to appreciate Ethiopia's milestones and over 200 years of diplomatic contact with at times challenging relationships but by and large an excellent relationship.
The current HIM Coronation Celebrations taking place at the Smithonian African Museum is a case in point.
For the first time, the US congress is waking up to the occasion of the Millenial Celebrations and should be appreciated.
At this unique time in history we are indebted to Congressman Honda for his leadership of trying to change the tide towards win-win synergistic partnerships. I trust the Senate and the White House will follow suit.
In the mean time, we need to be vigilant about this unique relationship, lest the regional terrorist continue to mislead the congress like they did to Congressmen Chris Smith and Donald Payne in the HR 2003 Fiasco.
All the same, this is a good trend and we need to encourage it.
Viva Congress, do some more!
Dr B
Speech by Congressman ENGEL
I rise in strong support of this resolution.
I first want to thank the gentleman from California, our colleague Mr. Honda, for this resolution congratulating the Ethiopian people for their nation's second milllennium.
I also commend America's large Ethiopian community, the Committee for the Celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium, and Ambassador Samuel Assefa and his staff for making the celebration in Washington, D.C. a truly memorable event.
That celebration brought together the finest Ethiopian artists, musicians, scientists, and scholars from around the world for the purpose of making the event not just a social festival but also a learning experience.
Mr. Speaker, Ethiopia is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. It is a country of great antiquity with a culture and tradition dating back thousands of years. The most recent humanoid remains yet discovered, known as ``Lucy,'' were found in Ethiopia.
Modern-day Ethiopia is a multiethnic country with some 83 languages spoken, most of which belong to four main language groups. It is a multireligious country where for centuries, Christians, Muslims, and Jews have co-existed.
In a region of the country known as Kaffa, Ethiopians in the ninth centurydiscovered what we now know as coffee. Ethiopians still practice a traditional ceremony around coffee, a significant social event of the day for family and community.
Today Ethiopia is an emerging democracy, a leader on the continent of Africa, and a friend to the United States. Ethiopia stood by the American people on September 11 and has continued to cooperate with the U.S. Government and the world community in the fight against terrorism.
I wish to express our gratitude and to extend our best wishes to the people of Ethiopia as their nation observes the beginning of its third millennium.
Mr. BOOZMAN.
I am pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 550, which congratulates the people of Ethiopia as they celebrate their second millennium. This commends Ethiopia's contribution to peace and stability on the African continent and recognizes the longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and the United States.
While much of the world celebrated the dawn of the second millennium in January of 2000, Ethiopia recognizes the Coptic calendar, which falls 7 years behind our own. This practice is in keeping with Ethiopia's long and rich cultural heritage.
Ethiopia is the only country on the African continent never to have been colonized and, in fact, played an important role in the liberation struggles of numerous other African countries during the colonial period. It continues to play an important role in promoting peace across the continent, both as a major supporter of peacekeeping efforts and the home of the African Union.
Ethiopia has served as a model of religious toleration in the region, a place where Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have co-existed peacefully for centuries. Ethiopia also is home to countless historical artifacts and world heritage sites, including the earliest known hominid, Lucy; and the medieval rock churches of Lalibela, which have been recognized as a wonder of the world. All of these facts have contributed to the strong sense of pride and nationalism that Ethiopians enjoy today.
And while Ethiopia continues to face significant challenges in terms of security and democratic and economic development, this is a country that has served as one of the strongest allies of the United States in the region. The value of our relationship should not be taken lightly.
I was particularly pleased to learn that Prime Minister Meles, Ethiopia's Prime Minister, kicked off the celebrations in September by granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, including a number of opposition leaders.
It is my hope that the spirit of rebirth and reconciliation engendered in the celebration will continue to take root as Ethiopia embarks on a second millennium.
So I rise to congratulate our friends in Ethiopia on this joyous occasion, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we have now concluded six bills that came out of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I just want to congratulate all the sponsors of the bills and the members of the committee. You can see these bills were all supported with strong bipartisan support. But I want to especially commend the staffs on both sides of the aisle for working very, very hard in getting these bills through.
The very first bill we did was H.R. 1567, which was my bill, the Stop TB Now Act of 2007. And I want to especially commend my legislative director, Emily Gibbons, who was so responsible for this bill. If it wasn't for her, I don't think this bill would have come to its fruition. She was tenacious and was extraordinarily helpful to me in passing this legislation, and this legislation is clearly also a tribute to her fine work.
So I wanted to mention that, and I wanted to again thank my colleague from Arkansas.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 550, congratulating the people of Ethiopia on the second millennium of Ethiopia, and for other purposes, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative MICHAEL HONDA. This important legislation recognizes the significant efforts made by the government of Ethiopia to move forward in peace and stability, and it encourages our continued relationship.
Ethiopia is currently on the road to democracy. This is a path that should be paved with civil and political discourse, peaceful transitions of power, and respect for human rights. By necessity, the achievement of a modern democracy requires the implementation of electoral reforms, the separation of powers in the government, and the establishment of a truly independent judiciary.
These are the founding principles of our American Republic, and I have seen firsthand the progress on the path to democracy Ethiopia has made since the brutal dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam was brought down in 1991. I strongly believe that the United States should do all it can to support this transition, including bolstering civil society and speaking out when fundamental human rights are violated.
Ethiopia has a long and proud history. It is the cradle of mankind, as illustrated by Lucy, also known as Dinkinesh (Amharic for ``you are wonderful''), which is the nearly complete hominid skeleton discovered by archaeologists in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia on November 30, 1974.
Lucy is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years ago and has redefined science's understanding of human evolution. I was happy to work with Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Ethiopian Ambassador Samuel Assefa, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science to bring Lucy to Houston, which is one of only nine American cities and the only city in Texas to host the exhibit. The bones are currently on display in Houston, and will be until April 2008.
Ethiopia is also the oldest independent nation in Africa, has never been colonized, and is home to the African Union. Despite Ethiopia's rich history, however, recent decades have brought hardship and suffering to Ethiopia's people, through military conflict, natural disasters, and a military dictatorship.
For over a decade in the House of Representatives, and prior to that in the Houston city council, I have been an outspoken and unwavering advocate for the country of Ethiopia and its people, both in Ethiopia and in the diaspora. Following in the legendary footsteps of my predecessor, Mickey Leland, who died attempting to alleviate the starvation faced by Ethiopia's innocent populace, I have been a champion of increasing foreign aid to, political, economic, and social cooperation with, and improving human rights in Ethiopia.
Mr. Speaker, I believe this legislation is extremely important in encouraging the progressive strides of the government of Ethiopia. This legislation not only congratulates the people of Ethiopia on Ethiopia's second millennium and their long and rich history, but also commends Ethiopia's contribution to peace and stability on the African continent through its role in the creation of the Organization of African Unity.
It further recognizes the longstanding Ethiopia-U.S. relationship and commends the organizers of the second millennium celebrations both in Ethiopia and the United States.
I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation
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