Conference on Good Governance, Peace, Security, Sustainable Development in the Horn of Africa, 9-11 April 2010, Washington DC, Doubletree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA
The conference is organized by Organized by Advocacy for Ethiopia (AFE) and Ethiopian National Priorities Consultative Process (ENPCP). Co-sponsors: Trans Africa Forum and Africa Action
TENTATIVE PROGRAM
FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2010
9:00-10:00 Registration
10:00- 12:30 Plenary session
Opening and Welcome by Ambassador (Ret) Imru Zeleke, Chairperson of ENPCP and Dr Gezahegn Bekele, Executive Director of AFE
Session chairs: Ambassador (Ret) Ayalew Mandefro and Dr Getachew Metaferia
Forum for Keynote Speakers and Guest Speakers:
Congressman Chris Smith (Expected)
A Representative from the US State Department (Expected)
A Distinguished Guest Speaker from Ethiopia (Expected)
Ambassador Princeton N. Lyman, Senior Fellow of CFR (Expected)
Mr. Gerald LeMell, Executive Director, Africa Action
Ms Emira Woods, Director Foreign Policy in Focus (IPS)
Discussants: Professor Getachew Begashaw & Professor Berhanu Nega
12:30 – 1:30 LUNCH BREAK
1:30 -3:30 Guest Speakers: continuation
Session chair: Mrs Wassy Tesfa , (AFE)
(1) Ambassador David Shinn, Former US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Challenges facing the countries in the Horn of Africa
(2) Dr. Terrence Lyons, George Mason University, Ethiopian Elections: Past and Future
(3) Professor Emeritus Theodore Vestal, Oklahoma State University Governance and Human Rights in Ethiopia
Discussant: Dr Aklog Birara
3:30-4:00 COFFEE BREAK
4:00-6:30 Panel Discussion: United States Policy towards Ethiopia
Session Chair: Dr Msmaku Asrat
Panelists:
(1) Ms. Imani Countess, Senior Director for Public Affairs, TransAfrica
(2) Ms. Niemat Ahmadi, Liason Officer, Save Darfur Coalition
(3) US policy towards the Horn of Africa, Mr Gregory Simpkins, Vice President for Policy & Program Development, Leon Sullivan Foundation.
(4) Center for Strategic and International Studies (Expected)
(5) Professor George Ayittey, Free Africa Foundation
Question and Answer
Discussant: Professor Berhanu Mengistu
SATURDAY APRIL 10, 2010
9:00-12:00 Plenary Session
Welcome and Introduction: Mrs. Wassy Tesfa (AFE)
Session Chair: Ato Negussie Mengesha,
Guest Speaker: Honorable Anna Gomes, Member of the European Parliament
Panel Discussion: Ideology and Political Governance
Session Chairs: Professor Getachew Begashaw & Ato Negussie Mengesha
Panelists:
(1) Towards a political roadmap for peace & stability, Dr Msmaku Asrat
(2) The Ethiopian State and the elite: Past and Present, Dr Aregawi Berhe
(3) Ethiopia: the land of missed opportunities, Professor Berhanu Nega
(4) The dialectics of multi-cultural-ism: reconciling the two nationalisms, Ato Jawar Siraj Mohammed
(5) The legacy of radicalism and the fragmentation of politics in Ethiopia, Professor Messay Kebede
Question and Answer
12:00-1:00 LUNCH BREAK
1:00-3:00 CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session #1 Venue #1 Eritrea and Ethiopia
Session Chairs: Professor Minga Negash and Ato Fekade Shewakena
Presenters
(1) Time for Reflection: Taking stock of the costs of the status quo in Ethio-Eritrean relations and charting a new path forward, Professor Shumet Sishagne
(2) New relationship between Eritreans & Ethiopians: A view from Eritrea, Ato Amanuel Biedemariam
(3) Access to the sea as a source of conflict and development, Professor Getachew Begashaw.
(4) Eritrea and Ethiopia:- peace and security, Professor Berhe Habte Giorgis
Question and Answer
Session #2: The Horn of Africa
Session chairs: Ato Kidane Alemayehu and Professor Messay Kebede
(1) Peace and security in the Horn of Africa, Mr. Yussuf Kalib, Horn of Africa Peace and Development Center, Dallas, Texas
(2) Ethnic federalism and one-party rule in Ethiopia:-Lessons for the Horn of Africa, Ato Ephrem Madebo
(3) Can Ethiopia be the center of gravity for Horn of Africa peace, good governance and development? Professor Seid Samatar (Expected)
(4) Prospects for the Horn of Africa confederation, Ato Gizachew Zewdu.
(5) Development & environmental sustainability in the Horn of Africa, Mr. Phil Aroneanu, 350.0rg Climate Justice Movement
Question and Answer
3:00-3:20 COFFEE BREAK
3:20 -5:20 CONCURRENT SESSIONS: FOCUS ETHIOPIA
Venue Room #1: Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Session chairs: Mr. Jawar Siraj Mohammed & Dr Kassa Ayalew
(1) Ethiopia in the New Millennium: Issues of Democratic Governance, Dr Solomon Getahun.
(2) Contemporary Ethiopian politics:- similarity and differences between Ethiopian political organizations, Ato Gizaw Legesse
(3) Conflict resolution attempts by successive Ethiopian Governments, Professor Berhanu Mengistu.
(4) Legal education as an instrument of conflict prevention, Dr. Abigail Salisbury
(5) Three initiatives for conflict prevention & resolution, Ambassador Ayalew Mandefro
Question and Answer
Venue Room #2: Economic development & corporate governance
Session chair: Professor Seid Hassan & Ato Betru Gebregziabher
(1) Unemployment, poverty and self employment in urban Ethiopia, Dr Getinet Haile.
(2) The pros and cons of leasing land to foreign investors, Professor Alemlante Gebre-Selassie
(3) The land grab in Ethiopia: economic, social and environmental consequences, Ato Fekade Shewakena
(4) The crisis of development theory and its implications for Ethiopia, Dr. Fekadu Bekele (Expected).
(5) The agency and ownership problems of Ethiopia’s political party owned enterprises: some policy options, Professor Minga Negash
Question and Answer
5:20-7:20 Panel Discussion:-Government accountability and civil society
Session chair: Dr. Migenet Shiferaw
Panelists:
(1) Dr. Erku Yimer & Dr Teshome Tadesse, On the role of civil society organizations in democratization and development.
(2) Ms Agere Alehegn, “The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Women’s Participation in Political Organizations
(3) Dr Abeba Fekade, Which roads Ethiopia; to justice, freedom and peace? A call to Ethiopian women.
(4) Ms Yalemzewd Bekele Mulat, “The Impact of the Charities and Societies Proclamation No. 621/2009 of Ethiopia (the Civil Society Law) on the coming 2010 elections”
(5) Ato Girmay Gizaw, “The Birtukan Factor”.
(6) Ato Obang Metho, The campaign to end impunity in Ethiopia (Expected)
Question and Answer
SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2010
10:00AM -12:15 PM Panel Discussion
Venue Room #1 Panel Discussion: Politics, Freedom of the Press, the media
Session Chairs: W/o Tizeta Belachew & Ato Mulugeta Lule
(1) United Front and Coalition building: Lessons Learned, Dr. Mulugeta Syoum
(2) Ethnic federalism and child health care outcomes in Ethiopia, Ato Henoch Fente
(3) Press freedom, academic freedom and elections, Ato Abebe Gellaw
(4) The Role Ethiopian Diaspora media, Ato Abebe Belew
(5) TPLF’s media control and the freedom of Ethiopians, Ato Tekle Mikael Sahle Mariam
Questions and Answers
12:00-1:30 Lunch with Honorable Anna Gomez
(Limited number of tickets are available, by request and invitation only)
1:30- 3:00 PUBLIC MEETING
CRYSTAL GRAND HALL, THE DOUBLE TREE HOTEL
Plenary Session
Opening and welcome: Ato Neamin Zeleke,(AFE) Conference Coordinator
Guest Speakers #1:
(1) Ms Imani Countess, Senior Director for Public Affairs, Trans Africa
(2) Hon Anna Gomez, Member of European Parliament
(3) Mr Gregory Simpkins, Vice President for Policy & Program Development, Leon Sullivan Foundation.
(4) Professor George Ayittey, Free Africa Foundation
Awards and Recognition
Ethiopian Cultural show (Expected)
3:30-4:00 COFFEE BREAK AND BOOTH VISIT.
4:00-7:00
Panel Discussion: “Which way Ethiopia?”
Ethiopians chart a roadmap to democracy, peace and stability
Session chairs: Ato Betru Gebregziabher and Ato Negussie Mengesha
Reporters : Professor Seid Hassan and Dr Aklog Birara
Panelists:
Group #1: Ato Obang Metho, Ato Jawar Mohammed, Ato Abebe Gellaw, Dr. Abeba Fekade, Artist& Activist Tamagne Beyene, Ato Birhanemeskel, Dr Msmaku Asrat (ENPCP) and Dr Gezahegn Bekele (AFE)
Group #2: Lt. Ayal-sew Dessie, Professor Berhanu Nega, Dr Aregawi Berhe, and Professor Getachew Begashaw
Question and Answer
Statement on the Roadmap to Peace, Democracy & Development in Ethiopia
Closure:
-Ambassador (Ret) Imru Zeleke (ENPCP) and Mrs Wassy Tesfa (AFE)
To Register Visit: http://advocacyforethiopia.org
6 thoughts on “Conference on Good Governance in the Horn of Africa”
Ethiopians, can we stand up and demand the removal of diplomatice immunities for WOYANE murderers? Currently UN is being sued by Bosineans for genocode that UN stood by and watched, then what stops Ethiopians to sue the head of crime family of Meles Zenawi who butchered, disappeared, robbed banks, private properties, land from poor farmers, begged donors yet, skimmed off 95% of handouts. Committed heinous crimes against Anuaks, Oromos, Amaharas, Guraghes. Preached as if there is democracy, yet butchered when university children spoke about evils the regime does. I truely believe, denying diplomatice immunities to current and former EPRDF VIA international tribunal is must. This
process would lead to recovering at list some the looted wealth, hold accountable Meles Zenawi who chose to place “AGAZZI” KILLER squad under his command, which makes him the sole responsible mafia style operator.
PROFESSOR Al Mariam and many legal experts, com’n try this would result in denying any comfort to these thugs and their benefiaries from living off the bloods and sweats of the Ethiopian people they victimized for over 30 years.
Are you joking!!!!!!!!!!
Meles can lecture you about good governance but the problem is in good governance it is not possible to loot and kill and this is contrary to Meles`s interest.
A tyrant will only be removed by force not by lecturing him about good governance.
It looks very well organized and detailed.I can see that a lot of known public figures in there.
Ato Elias, if it is possible can you please broadcast it live.
thnx
Elias, you are the best. No one has come to understanding Ethiopian problems very closely as much as you do. Thank you for that, job well done. Keep up the way you are doing it.
Brilliant! This is how we should be organized from DIVERSE group of people from Ethiopia, not just the mainstream Ethiopians. It should include all, I was hoping Somali, more from Oromo would participate. This is real domcracy and this is how we all in the Diaspora should interact to come together to discuss our unity and differences towards common democracy for Ethiopia!
Peace be all those who participate for common good and the organizers!
Why the organizers didn’t invite Elias Kifle and Abraha Belay? I think these two people have a much better experience and knoweldge about Ethiopian politics than the so-called Drs and Professors.
A big question mark?