June 10, 2005
No. 26/05

Statement In Response To Joint Declaration On The Complaints Review And Investigation Process

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- The United States applauds the signing by the EPRDF, the CUD and the UEDF of the June 10 Joint Declaration agreeing to a process to investigate and resolve electoral complaints.  This Declaration is the key to ending election-related violence in Ethiopia.  We commend the National Electoral Board (NEB) for immediately announcing that it agrees to the complaint review and investigation process requested in the Joint Declaration.  We support the agreement which commits the parties to use only the established legal electoral mechanisms to determine the outcome of the elections, and affirms their commitment to abide by the results.  The United States expects each party, after signing the Declaration, to abide by the letter and spirit of the agreement without adding conditions that were not part of the Joint Declaration.

The United States has been dismayed and alarmed by the violence and deaths of the past week and extends sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased.  We join Ethiopia’s political parties in condemning all acts of violence and incitement to violence and urge all Ethiopians to act with restraint and respect towards their fellow citizens.  We agree that security forces must maintain their professional role and not use excessive force.  Reports of numerous arrests and detentions have increased tensions throughout the country, and we urge the government to respect the rule of law when maintaining order, respect the international principles of human rights, and apply due process to those arrested or detained.

It is essential that all Ethiopians live together and use the political and legal processes to resolve differences peacefully.  In this connection, the free flow of information is important, and we urge the government not to inhibit the work of Ethiopian journalists and to re-instate licenses for journalists from the Voice of America and Deutsche Welle so they can resume normal operations.  Restriction on freedom of the press inhibits democracy and the ability of citizens to make informed decisions.

We urge all Ethiopians to wait for the investigations to conclude and to accept the outcome of a peaceful and democratic process.  A resort to violence by any side puts democracy and the future of Ethiopia at risk.  

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