Oct 6, 2005
Ethiopian Review

Bereket Simon told the CUD and UEDF leaders yesterday that EPRDF is not willing to negotiate the demand by the CUD that reelection be held in the 299 contested electoral districts. The CUD leaders were upset and left the meeting without giving any statement to the press, but Bereket Simon, Dr Beyene Petros, and Dr Berhanu Nega, who injected himself into the negotiation, tried to give a positive spin to the negotiation process, while refusing to answer any question from the press. This is what Dr Berhanu read for the press:

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I just will read the English version of our statement for today. We are not to take questions. The three parties have discussed two issues .The first is related to rules of engagement where we all have contributed positively and agreed upon. We have also identified eight agenda items to be discussed. The discussion was done in constructive spirit and it will continue tomorrow. Thank you

The eight agenda items mentioned by Dr Berhanu do not include CUD’s primary concern, i.e, contested ballots.

This has caused angry reaction today by most CUD council members. The council gave the delegates a strict instruction that if EPRDF refuses to discuss the 299 contested electoral constituencies, the negotiation must end.