Donors urge dialogue to end political stalemate

Representatives of Ethiopia's donors have reiterated their call for dialogue between the government and the opposition in order to nurture the democratic process and end political recriminations in the Horn of Africa country. Nineteen diplomats and representatives of four multilateral organisations - who have come together under the umbrella Ambassadors' Donors Group (ADG) - urged the government and the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), to resolve the political deadlock that led to bloody election-related civil unrest in 2005, claiming at least 84 lives. They also called for the release of jailed opposition politicians. "We urge reconciliation and dialogue among all those engaged in the democratic process. Tolerance of dissenting views is a hallmark of democracy," the diplomats said in a statement released in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday. "As partners engaged in helping Ethiopia's long-term development, we continue to support the peaceful democratic process for the country, and the strengthening of the pluralistic multiparty system." Ethiopian authorities welcomed the statement, saying it was the desire of the government to encourage democracy. "It is a positive statement that the government accepts, because supporting the democratic process is something the government is engaged in," an official at the information ministry, who asked not to be named, said. The CUD is still divided on whether it should take charge of the capital's administration, a responsibility the party rejected in protest of the alleged rigging of parliamentary and local council elections in May 2005. The CUD has until the beginning of May to take charge of Addis Ababa's municipal administration. The ADG also called for the release of 111 Ethiopians in custody on charges ranging from conspiracy to treason and genocide - their trial is set to resume on 2 May. "We continue to advocate for the release of imprisoned CUD leaders and representatives of the media and civil society," the ambassadors' statement said. "All elected leaders should be given a chance to take part in the political reconciliation process," it added. Those in custody were arrested last November following deadly clashes between demonstrators protesting alleged electoral fraud, and security forces. The ADG comprises Austria, Britain, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, the African Development Bank, the European Commission, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank.