HE Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has labelled terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations... a crime against humanity.” Speaking at the 59^th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 28^th September, Seyoum said "no cause, no grievance, however legitimate in itself can begin to justify such acts" and called on the international community to fight “this scourge with resolve and unison.”

Seyoum was attending the beginning of the 2004-2005 regular session of the UN General Assembly, and spoke as part of the general debate in which UN Member States expressed their views on the most pressing international issues.

Seyoum said that Ethiopia was proud to be contributing to the collective effort to ensure peace and stability in the continent through its membership of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the UN and to the principles on which it was created.

He went on to identify the primary task for Ethiopia as “the fight against poverty and ensuring food security for our people” and talked of the three challenges ahead for the country –  enhancing the democratisation process already underway, the need for rapid development and the need to ensure peace and stability through out the Eastern Africa region.

He called the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea a “tragic setback” and a “waste”.

“Let there be no doubt...Ethiopia wants to put the crisis it has had with Eritrea behind it. The truth is that both [peoples] have one common enemy – poverty and backwardness.”

“There is no doubt that its final resolution would afford Ethiopia greater opportunities for playing an even greater role for peace in our sub-region and beyond,” he said.

Seyoum also spoke of Ethiopia’s contingents in the UN Peace-Keeping forces in Burundi and Liberia, continuing to contribute in a modest way to the success of the on-going peace processes in those African countries, and the hope to see the Darfur crisis resolved and the humanitarian tragedy there dealt with as speedily as possible. 

Speaking in the wider context of the continent, Seyoum said there was not “sufficient support internationally to make it possible for Africa to meet the economic challenges it is facing” and expressed his hope that this would be “reversed and the promises made in the Millennium Declaration would be met.”

A full copy of the speech can be read here. 

ENDS