EDITOR’S NOTE: Germany’s leader Angela Merkel had said at the G20 meeting in London that corrupt dictators should not be allowed to hide their money in secret Swiss bank accounts any longer. If Merkel’s proposal is put to work, this could be the most important accomplishment of the G20 meeting. No wonder Ethiopia’s dictator Meles Zenawi was looking desperate and sad at the gathering.
Henry Gombya Reports for BSN From G20 In LONDON — The G20 summit of leaders of industrialized and industrializing countries ended late Thursday evening here with a pledge of a $1 trillion dollars thrown in the financial markets to help ease the global economic crisis.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the leaders pledged to restore confidence and growth in global finances and also pledged to create more jobs.
In what was seen as an attempt to deal with the causes of the current global financial crisis, the G20 leaders agreed to expand the Financial Stability Forum and re-established it with a stronger institutional basis and enhanced capacity as the Financial Stability Board (FSB).
It will therefore assess the vulnerabilities affecting the financial system, identify and oversee action needed to address them. The FSB will from now on “promote co-ordination and information exchange among authorities responsible for financial stability.”
“The challenge is clear,” U.S. president Barack Obama, said. “The global economy is contracting. Trade is shrinking. Unemployment is rising. The international financial system is nearly frozen.”
Addressing the press at the end of the summit, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the G20 had also pledged to fund and reform international financial institutions, act decisively to kick-start international trade, and build an inclusive, green and sustainable recovery.
Brown said: “We will not hesitate as long as people are losing their jobs and their homes to make the difference that we can by improving their prosperity. Today’s actions of course will not immediately solve the crisis. But we have begun the process by which they will be solved.”
He added that this was not just a single collection of actions. “It is a collective action – people working together at their best,” Brown said.
World leaders who have abused their country’s financial systems by robbing their central banks and banking the proceeds in private numbered Swiss accounts are in for a shock. Germany’s powerful Chancellor, Angela Merkel told journalists, “The days of secret banking are now over.”
From now on, banks will be required to let the FSB look into questionable accounts held in a bank. Many dictators especially in developing countries have used the loophole of secret bank account to amass great wealth. Most of the money banked in such a way often end up being lost when those dictators are either killed or dies from natural causes without anyone knowing what they held in numbered Swiss accounts.
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said he was happy with the outcome of the summit. He was also happy that for the first time, the G20 members invited the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) the summit, he said.
“South Africa was invited on its own merit of being an emerging economy,” he said, deflecting a question as to whether he represented the entire African continent. Answering a question put to him by The Black Star News as to whether the US$ 250 billion promised by the G20 to go towards helping Africa deal with the present global financial crisis would not end up buying private planes, palaces and limousines for some of Africa’s corrupt leaders, Motlanthe said this money would not go directly to African leaders but would be used by non-government bodies that would pay for services needed by the people of Africa.
Although Meles Zenawi the Ethiopian Prime Minister and also current NEPAD chair was here, he abruptly cancelled a press conference he was about to give. His people gave no reasons for this. But insiders in the press centre said Zenawi was worried about the kind of questions that were going to be put to him concerning human rights violations within Ethiopia and his dealing with his opponents and Ethiopia’s neighbours.
In terms of who benefitted and who lost through the outcome of this summit, it is clear that while the West was seen as trying its best to clean up its house after the global financial crisis that has claimed many jobs and foreclosures.
The $1 trillion poured into the Western world’s global finances is likely to go a long way in helping stem the crisis. The African continent really wasn’t heard; Motlanthe said he didn’t speak for the continent and Prime Minister Ethiopia’s dictator Zenawi cowered in the shadows. On the other hand, Germany’s Merkel found time for journalists and spent a good hour explaining why she was here and what they had achieved.
Indeed, it was rather absurd that no representative of the African continent was at hand to put their case to the world media at such a major global setting.
At a press conference at the end of the summit, President Obama added that while the United States was his priority, every one of the world leaders ought to do what it takes to bring to an end the current global financial crisis.
For the British Prime Minister the summit could not have come at a better time. His ratings in polls have of late been falling badly due to accusations that as one who presided over Britain’s economy for a decade during Tony Blair’s premiership, he should have seen this meltdown coming.
12 thoughts on “Shocking news to Meles and other African dictators”
This is indeed a shock for many of African dictators. Most importantly, to Meles and his friends.
LONG LIVE ANJELLA MERKEL. We love your idea. It is fabulous. Thank you for representing the voiceless.
God said through Jeremiah 13, 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?
Yes! Jeremiah’s prophecy seems happening in the 21st century Ethiopian generation. Being an Ethiopian is a God given grace incarnated with our blood and soul that we cannot neglect it when Ethiopians’ interests are threatened. Centuries passed, the universe made tremendous changes, being an Ethiopian is fresh. No matter where we are, no matter what happened, whether dictator’s barbarian cruelty, famine or war happened, being an Ethiopian remains fresh as Jeremiah said.
Unfortunately, although the political changes of the world 18 years ago transferred Ethiopia from pain to pain in the hand of woyanes, uneducated, cruel, barbarians and bloodthirsty, gorilla fighters, although they committed the crime that every Ethiopian was expecting to happen before they came to call them selves a government, as Jeremiah said they did not change the moral and courage of Ethiopians because it is a God given power that can’t be even affected despite burning them selves back like a firefly flying around her killer fire.
The Ethiopian G-20 participant fire fly former gorilla fighter and his gorilla fireflies, came to commit crime against God’s people, their crime is burning them back like the burning fire fly. This is what we are seeing at the G-20, when their representative suffering from the pain of the fire of God of Ethiopians and Jeremiah.
The criminal firefly representative of the fireflies of the God of Ethiopians will continue learning and burning with the fire that they are flying around.
Because being an Ethiopian is God’s power for those who acknowledge, enjoy and believe in it, being an Ethiopian is consuming fire for those who behave like woyanes aor fire flies. Woyanes have made them thelves typical fireflies suffering pains of the fire of the God of Ethiopia.
God of Ethiopia be with the G- 20 world leaders and participants for serving the God of Ethiopia by making Ethiopia’s criminal firefly feel the pain of the fire of the God of Ethiopia, Ethiopians and Jeremiah the prophet Amen.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?
Elias,
Meles is the only invited from the developing countries. He was a special guest. They don’t just invite losers. Other wise, we would have seen you, not him. Your only hope is EPPF. If I were you, i would spend my time in helpping the “The Fighter”. That is the only way your loud mouth can be heard.
Didn’t he get his wish of exchanging the real gold bullion in IMF’s coffer to a gold plated metal. What are you talking about? You better come up with non-satirical story that makes sense. You better have a good plan to save Ethiopia, the IMF and the rest of the world from this scavenger. He has some kind of vodoo power that is hypnotising the west. Otherwise he has no plan to vacate his seat and we have no hope to unseat him in the next election or ever. We are running out of time talking BS.
Looking at the picture, he is discussing with devil his vodoo mission.
I think the notion of limiting dictator’s ability to rob their own country is the Nobel idea and all activists and human right organizations should make this subject the primary fight for justice. Angela Merkel should be praised for her brilliant idea as to this matter.
Whether it is represented by Meles or Mandela, Africa has come a long way to be part of the G-20 Summit. As chairman of NEPAD, the message the PM carried was that of African ministers. He rightly got the respect and attention of the Summit. As for his personal integrity, it has nothing to do with his message.
Mrs. Merkel’s recommendation is long overdue. jib kehede wusha chohe. European capitals and banks have ammassed African wealth illegally and unethically since colonial era. Swiss banks are keeping dictator’s fortunes. What of the Emperor’s 11 Billion Birr, Mobut’s $5 Billion, Markos’, Pinoche’s, etc? Would they return the monies to the countries where they were stolen from?
What a looser! Every one is conversing except Zenawi. He roars like a lion in Addis but cowers elsewhere. What a shame!
I am shocked to see this crack head, shameless Melese to see him among so called G-20 leaders. I thought this leaders support democrated world. Man this is sad for me. I honestly was enjoying Obama’s presentation all that but this genesider Meles make it look like a genocide committee. I hope they will never invite this shameless, country destroyer, country seller to this kind of distinguished placed. This is like disrespecting and insult for those Ethiopian people who died for free democratic world.
How could he represent My Country while he divided, sell it and put the map with the few tribal region or tribal map while dismissing the majority of Ethiopians who are more than 80 tribes living out side the country. The destroyer Melese is in G-20 WoW. I am shamed with this so Called G-20. Even though our world is complex and complicated, it is easy to say no and to take action to those who genocide and murder innecent people for expressing their view. I am very proud to those who participate in this demonstration. I hope we will come together as we use to be as one. We shall not be full with this deceiver and divider, Evil Meles Zenawi . I love to see all Ethiopians to see them stand all together. I am so proud to be an Ethiopian. You people really make me to be proud and Thank You So Much with my whole heart.
Time and time again the western countries specially the US directly or indirectly assisting dictators like Melese to prolong their power against innocent people in Africa.If they stop helping these dictators in the name of self interset it wont be difficult to clean Africa from these ruthless dictators.
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