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Ethiopia’s political parties hold debate on national security

ADDIS ABABA, April 30, 2005 (Xinhua) — The ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) said here Saturday it will continue to give utmost attention to the alleviation of poverty.

The ruling party said the poverty is the fundamental threat to the country’s national security, and to the building up of democracy and good governance.

The opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) on its part said EPRDF has put the country’s national security in danger, adding that if CUD is elected, all the policies, it would pursue, will give priority to the country’s national interests.

Meanwhile, another opposition party, the Union of Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), on its part said there has never been a democratic order in Ethiopia.

The debate forum, organized by the prestigious Addis Ababa University, was broadcast live by Ethiopian Television and the National Radio.

Speaking at the debate forum, representatives of the ruling EPRDF said that as the main threat to the country’s national security is poverty, EPRDF has undertaken encouraging activities over the past years to alleviate this fundamental problem.

During the past 14 years of EPRDF rule, the rights of citizens have been respected, and citizens have become their own administrators through a policy of decentralization, which allowed the devolution of power to the grassroots level.

The EPRDF representatives said the internal and foreign policies being pursued by EPRDF have guaranteed the respect of the country’s national interest.

They added that EPRDF has been able to create a regular and reserve army capable to protect the country’s sovereignty.

The EPRDF representatives said oppositions have a blind outlook that attaches the country’s very survival solely to the existence of a sea outlet, and added that there are many prosperous nations that have no sea outlet.

The EPRDF representatives said oppositions have held the notion that neighboring countries are always a threat to Ethiopia.

However, they said, for EPRDF, the greatest threat to national security and the country’s worst enemies are poverty, the absence of democracy and of good governance.

The EPRDF representatives said that through its foreign policy, EPRDF has been able to register good results in expanding trade relations, winning the support of development partners and gaining tremendous assistance as well as attracting foreign investment.

Accordingly, the representatives said, the country has been able to garner 2.1 billion US dollars in assistance, 3.7 billion dollars in loan and a debt cancellation amounting to over 6.4 billion dollars.

Representatives of the UEDF on their part said there has never been a democratic order in this country.

The UEDF representatives said that while the union does not want to deny the few things EPRDF has done, they, however, contend that EPRDF has severely restricted the country’s prospect to a more rapid development and progress.

The UEDF representatives said EPRDF is a party that cares little when the country’s interests are at stake.

As far as national security is concerned, the UEDF representatives said, EPRDF is not at all a party to rely on.

The UEDF representatives said EPRDF’s diplomacy was not successful, adding that diplomats have been assigned based on loyalty to the governing party rather than on merits.

The UEDF representatives also said the national security of the country has been exposed to danger and Eritrea was seceded during the EPRDF regime.

The CUD representatives on their part argued the primary role of any government should be protecting the territorial integrity of a nation, and added that if the coalition wins the election it will give priority for the territorial integrity of the country.

The CUD representatives have also said making Ethiopia a land- locked country was another fault committed during the reign of EPRDF.

Pursuing the national interest of the country will be the only source of CUD’s policies, the representatives said.

Thirty-six political parties will contest places in the 547- seat federal parliament in the election, which the ruling EPRDF is strongly favored to win.

Up to 25.6 million people have registered to vote at 38,000 polling stations, according to the state-appointed National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).

Ethiopia holds national polls every five years.

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