State Department Briefing Ethiopia Nov 12 2009

(Out look) It is an open secret that the Ethiopian government has been using food aid to control people. Every Ethiopian know this as well as the American Embassy in Addis. If one is to give the benefit of doubt as to the embassy is actually  investigating this sham by the government then the whole embassy personnel should be fired and replace them with able people. Because it is such an open thing for everyone to see. The Ethiopian government did not even try to hide it.  Perhaps now they would be told to do it covertly. The state department should stop insulting our intelligence. Enough is enough. The Ethiopian people are well aware that the US government will support Meles no matter how brutal the regime gets. Does the carnage in Ogaden, Oromia, Addis ababa and Gambela e.t.c   come to mind.
 by  Daniel

State Department Briefing. Topics include Ethiopia Nov 12 2009

15/11/2009


The following is an excerpt from the State Department daily briefing

regarding Ethiopia on November 12, 2009. Video is posted below, fast forward

towards the end on questions about Ethiopia.





QUESTION: I have a couple of Ethiopia questions.





MR. KELLY: Ethiopia questions.





QUESTION: Yeah. Has the State Department or USAID investigated claims by the

country's opposition, including a former president and defense minister that

some of the $850 million in food and anti-poverty aid from the U.S. is being

distributed on the basis of political favoritism by the current prime

minister's party? And then, also when the Secretary met with the Ethiopian

foreign minister last week, did she bring up the issue of the jailed

opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa, and did she express any concerns about

the fairness of the outcoming Ethiopian elections in May?





MR. KELLY: Yeah. Well, regarding the assistance, we're committed to

assisting people in need all over the world. And we provide humanitarian

assistance that is politically neutral, socially impartial, and based on

people's needs, rather than on political factors. And we're, of course,

aware of these reports that you raise, Indira, about the politicization of

humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia. Regarding that, let me say that we have

monitoring systems in place to prevent or expose such activities, which we

are continually reviewing and working to improve. Personnel from U.S.

Embassy in Addis are increasing their field visits to observe how the

assistance is distributed, and they're aware of these allegations, so

they're conducting these monitoring activities specifically with these

allegations in mind. We are committed to the people of Ethiopia and ensuring

that our humanitarian assistance does reach those most in need.





In fiscal year 2008, the U.S. provided $934 million in overall assistance to

Ethiopia, of which $479 million was humanitarian assistance. The fiscal year

2009 numbers will be available at the end of the calendar year. This - the

meeting last week, I was not in that meeting, but I understand that a full

range of issues were discussed. And in general, human rights are at the

center of our bilateral dialogues with Ethiopia.





QUESTION: Thank you.





MR. KELLY: Thanks.