Friday, July 30

Farmers await WTO deal and more

Ethiopian farmers await WTO deal
Ethiopia would like to take advantage of the fertile soil it has in some parts of the country and its low labour costs by exporting more sugar to Europe.

But the EU's system of quotas and tariffs prevents it from doing so.

More trade might mean this country needing less aid.

But Ethiopians are not holding their breath.

They know rich countries have a long history of unfair economic practices, such as subsidising their agriculture while preaching the benefits of free trade.
Joint Ethiopia-Sudan border force kills 50 militia
A joint Ethiopia-Sudan military force killed 50 militia and captured 80 operating along their common border last week, the Ethiopian Defence Ministry said on Thursday, also accusing Eritrea of training the men.
Ethiopia accuses Sudanese tribe of illegally occupying its territory
Ethiopia has served notice for immediate withdrawal of the armed Sudanese Nuware Lo clan from two large areas bordering with Sudan in south-western Ethiopia, which it accused the clan of illegally occupying since early this year.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the autonomous Gambella Regional State bordering with Sudan, claimed that the Nuware Lo clan had displaced Ethiopians and settled in 17 localities in Akoko Woreda district after illegally crossing the international border.
Oromo not the only ethnic group abused in Ethiopia-A balanced and informative piece based on interviews with members of the various Ethiopian communities of Minnesota.

France pressures all sides of conflict in Darfur
The French foreign minister Michael Barnieh has called following his visit to Darfur district to the west of Sudan to pressuring all sides concerned involved in the conflict taking place there.

The French minister said after talks with President of Chad, Idris Deibi, in Abeichi to the East of Chad in the border area of Darfur, "pressures should be continued so as the government of Khartoum will dismantle the weapons of the militias and the groups. Pressure should be also made on other sides in this conflict in order to return back to the table of negotiations."
France opposes UN Sudan sanctions
"In Darfur, it would be better to help the Sudanese get over the crisis so their country is pacified rather than sanctions which would push them back to their misdeeds of old," junior Foreign Minister Renaud Muselier told French radio.

France led opposition to US moves at the UN over Iraq. As was the case in Iraq, France also has significant oil interests in Sudan.

Mr Muselier also dismissed claims of "ethnic cleansing" or genocide in Darfur.

"I firmly believe it is a civil war and as they are little villages of 30, 40, 50, there is nothing easier than for a few armed horsemen to burn things down, to kill the men and drive out the women," he said.
What would the world do without the moral clarity of French diplomacy? According to Paris 'all sides' need to be pressured in Darfur. Presumably including the victims of genocide. Also, the answer is to help the Sudanese 'pacify' their country because sanctions 'might push them back to their (genocidal?) misdeeds of old.'

The world wide panorama shoot on March 20, 2004 On Saturday, March 20, more than 180 photographers in 40 countries around the world celebrated the Equinox by creating VR panoramas. This site showcases the results of their efforts.

# posted by ethiopundit : 7/30/2004


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