Vol. 416 No. 4
59 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to recent political changes in Ethiopia; if he will press for greater EC economic assistance to help the new government in its reconstruction programme; and if he will consider upgrading Ireland's diplomatic presence in Addis Ababa to full ambassadorial level.
101 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline, (1) the up-to-date position on the famine situation in Ethiopia and (2) the help which Ireland is giving both nationally and through the EC to help alleviate this disaster.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 101 together.
Ireland, together with our partners in the European Community, has been following very closely recent developments in Ethiopia. We are encouraged by the attempts to restore peace in a country which has endured more than 30 years of civil war; a war which not only brought immense human suffering, but also impoverished the entire country.
The Twelve welcomed, therefore, the peace talks under United States auspices in London at the end of May last year. We followed with interest the national conference which took place in Addis Ababa at the beginning of July and welcomed its successful conclusion, noting with satisfaction that the Charter adopted at the conference explicitly guarantees individual human rights, including freedom of expression and association. In congratulating President Meles Zenawi on his election, the Twelve expressed the hope that the parties and factions would join together to reach a broad consensus that would lead Ethiopia towards democracy.
I shall continue to follow closely political developments in Ethiopia.
