U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassador Vicki J. Huddleston Interview with the VOA Amharic Service
April 13, 2005

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VOA: Thank you so very much for being available for this interview Ambassador. I would like for you to brief us on the efforts to bring about a transition of power for Addis Ababa City Council.

Ambassador: Wzro. Tizita, thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to talk to you and your listeners.  I especially appreciate it because I know that many of your listeners are concerned about the opposition becoming engaged in what they consider of a flawed process.  And what I really want to say is that for democracy to succeed, you have to be involved. Change in democracy comes from within.  It can’t be imposed from the outside. And so what we hope as the American Embassy and also the European Union and the Ambassadors Donors Group, is that the opposition will engage and will commit to a democratic process. 

VOA: Ambassador, I know you are implying that there are some objections to your effort and that of the other western diplomats involved.  Overcoming opposition to this arrangement in order for it to work... would you address some of the objections for example?

Ambassador:  First of all, it is not our process. It is the process of the Ethiopian people. And a process that has to be engaged in by both the opposition and the government. What I would like to say to you and to your listeners is basically quoting from Ecclesiastes, which is one of my favorite proverbs from the Bible. And you probable know this, and I am sure many of your will listeners know: It begins “To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” And our message, my message in particular that of the American Embassy has been that now nearly a year after the elections of May it is a time to embrace the democratic process, to move forward, a time to gather up all the opposition into a democratic process for the good of the country.

VOA:  Madam Ambassador, yes you mentioned about gathering all the opposition but given that all CUD offices in Addis Ababa and around the country are shut down, elected CUD leaders are in prison, and those who oppose taking part in this process are complaining harassment and intimidation by government security forces.  Are you confident that the CUD members taking over the City Council are representative?

Ambassador:  Yes I am. And I would remind you of Mandela perhaps the most famous man in Africa as well as perhaps throughout the world. When he went to prison the people on the outside carried forward, and in the end when he returned from being jailed, he assumed a leadership position.  A process does not end because people are detained.  A process must continue.  The continuation of the Ecclesiastes proverb says: “…a time to reap, a time to sow, a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.” And I think there are many courageous men and women in the CUDP who are now trying to form the CUDP and that we should be very proud of them. Because what they are trying to do is give full voice to the people of Addis Ababa who elected them to the City Council as well as the people of Ethiopia who elected them to the Parliament.  And we know that it is not easy, we know there are problems, and there are in all systems. But the only way to make the system work is to work within the system. You can’t impose from the outside.

VOA:  Are these people, the people who are arranging to take over the City Council, are they on the same page with people who are in prison?  Do they have their ok, they have their understanding?
 
Ambassador: The CUD parliamentarians who are from the CUD coalition as well as CUD Addis Ababa electees who are from CUD coalition are united in this effort and they very very much would like to have the support of those who are detained in prison.  Let me say a few words about those who are detained in prison.  Because you know there has been much hate and there’s been much violence. And now I think its the time to nurture reconciliation and peace.  Because if all sides put aside the differences and try to formulate some understanding and some compromise, then I think the possibilities for the release of the CUD leaders and the civil society leaders will be much enhanced.  Not only will the possibilities for their release be enhanced, but for the possibilities for strong sustained democracy and development in this country will be much enhanced.

VOA:  Ma’am, Is there a precondition from the government?

Ambassador:  I have no idea about preconditions from the government. This is an effort of the opposition CUD to form a CUD party so that they can be effectively represented in the Parliament, so that they can manage and lead the city of Addis Ababa as they were elected to do, so that they can get ready and run candidates in 2007, and think they would like to hope that they could win if they do this.

VOA:  Just on this point, I would like your elaboration on whether there was a precondition from the government for CUDP to take the City Council and then probably the political prisoners would be released.

Ambassador:  I have never heard anything like preconditions, of any type, or any shape, or any form.  And I think this is a mistake to begin to, you know, to try to link these things together. What we have to hope happens here, by the good will of these men and women in the opposition is that they began a process, and by beginning this process its a big step forward toward reconciliation. And with reconciliation, I think all things are possible.

VOA: Madam Ambassador, you mentioned Mandela’s style of peace and reconciliation.  Critics suggest that releasing political opposition from prison and holding a reconciliation dialogue among all parties, including the government will be {  } Ethiopia. And they also cite Mandela’s type of peace and reconciliation. What is your take on this?

Ambassador:  Well, as you know every body love to see the opposition CUD and the leaders of civil society out of jail. But we do not know when that is going to happen. You know our wishes are not always met, so what we have to do is try to create the conditions that would help them to get out of jail.  And if there is a peaceful process, if there is a political party, if the opposition is participating fully in the government, if there’s a recognition that the only way forward is through working within the democratic process and a democratic system no matter how frustrating, Then I think very much that is possible.

VOA:  What would you say to complaints in the opposition that your --  is not even    between government and the opposition in resolving the political impasse of the country?  They say you also did not exert enough pressure on the government.

Ambassador:  Well, you know that I love that question because how did they know how much pressure I do or don’t exert on the government? Certainly, we always talk to the government about the democratic process, about opening it up, about giving room for free expression for the full operation of the opposition.  We talked to the government about the release of the detainees and when we understand that there will be a trial, we urge that the charges be reduced and it be a speedy and a fair trail.  So I think that we are trying to be as even-handed as possible. We are not perfect.  Just like no democracy is perfect.  We are trying to do our best for democracy in Ethiopia.  You know I remember JFK (you can tell my age!) and one of my favorite sayings of John F. Kennedy is,  that he said, “and so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” And I hope that is something that all Ethiopians will take to heart. What they can do for their country?  What is the best for their country? And surely I believe engaging in a democratic process is the best for their country.  Tizita Amesegenalehu. I really appreciate…

VOA: Just one more question Ma’am. Just on the rights of citizens. There are allegations of physical abuse against those who are imprisoned, even CUD leaders. Do you know of this and does it concern you?

Ambassador:  Obviously we are concerned about any allegations of abuse of any citizens whether they are detained in prison or whether they are free, and when we hear about them, we make every effort to bring them to the attention of the government.  I found the detainees, when I had the opportunity to speak with them, to be in good condition which is an enormous relief, and in fairly good spirits too. And I just hope that they will continue to be in good spirits and in good health. And that we will all pray for a reconciliation process. So you know, let me say again that in any democracy there has to be reconciliation and there has to be compromise.  I am sure that this nation, which is a great nation with a very long, long history much longer than that of my own country, can find a way ahead with the goodwill of all parties. 

Thank you very much. Amesegenalehu.

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