CENTRE FOR CIVIC ACTION(CCA)

London, UK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The "International Conference on Ethiopia: Scope for Partnership, Justice, Peace and Development", after a three day deliberation (August 02-04, 2001, London, UK) has endorsed the establishment of an all-inclusive National Reconciliation Movement. The three-day conference was organized by the Center for Civic Action, UK, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Community in Britain, ECB.

Attended by a lot of Ethiopians from the UK and all over the World, including from Ethiopia, the Conference has deliberated extensively on the themes, which were highlighted by lead speakers.

After thorough consideration of issues involved, the following consensus was reached:

• That Ethiopia's history of warfare, human rights violations by successive regimes, animosity, deprivations and underlying malaise of hopelessness trends be halted through the process of national reconciliation and national salvation,
  
• That an all-inclusive partnership approach for national reconciliation be adopted drawing on the experience of other similar societies, both inside and outside the country,
  
• That the above requires a civic organization, with a National Charter remit, composed of all the stakeholders and its coordinating secretariat to lead the Movement,
  
• That such a civic movement may formulate its organizational structure and direction through consultation with all involved,
  
• That the Centre for Civic Action, CCA, UK, by virtue of its good standing and experience be the transitional Custodian to follow up on the outcome of the Conference up until such time that an appropriate Coordinating Secretariat is established, in consultation with the participants of the Conference as to how the said coordinating body could be established.

The participants noted with satisfaction the excellent exemplary role the Conference organizers played and appreciated the high degree of professionalism in which the Conference was facilitated.

Conference Coordinating Committee

05 August 2001 London, UK