Strasbourg, 17/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a joint resolution by all the political groups, with the exception of Independence and Democracy, adopted on 16 November, the European Parliament condemned the arrest and expulsion from Ethiopia of two Commission officials, Bjorn Jonsson and Enrico Sbrogi under the pretext that they had tried to assist lawyer and women's rights activist Yalemzewd Bekele, who worked for the European Commission, to leave the country. (Ms Bekele was released on 27 October, following EU intervention at the highest level after she had been held in secret for a number of days, the resolution points out.) Parliament also spoke of the carnage of June and November 2005, noting that the government's handling of the crisis had led to the deaths of 193 people and the arrest of massive numbers from among those who opposed the government or defended human rights (111 of whom are awaiting trial, accused of armed rebellion and attempted genocide). The EP called on the Ethiopian government to publish in full the final report of the committee of enquiry on this matter and to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners, whether journalists, union activists, defenders of human rights or ordinary citizens, and to allow the Red Cross to visit prisoners.
Cooperation with Ethiopia under the Cotonou Agreement linking the EU and ACP states should be conditional on respect for human rights and good governance, said Parliament. It also expressed its deep disappointment that the European Commission had invited Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to speak at the European Development Days (see EUROPE 9308). The European Commission felt that this event would present an opportunity to inform him of its concerns, concerns which Commissioner Louis Michel and President José Manuel Barroso expressed in Addis Ababa in October, responded Commissioner Olli Rehn. Finally, MEPs called on the EU to explore ways of organising an “inter-Ethiopian dialogue” to try to find a lasting solution to the current political crisis. (mg)