Check against Delivery
Right of Reply by the Delegation of Ethiopia to the Allegation Made by the representative
of African Rights Monitor on the Sixth Forum on Minority Issues.
Madam, President;
The Ethiopian delegation would like to put the record straight with regard to the allegations made
by the NGO called African Right Monitor.
Ethiopia is a country of extraordinary cultural diversity. It is country of over 80 Nations,
Nationalities and Peoples', each maintaining its distinct culture, language, traditional values and heritages.
The Ethiopian Federal System is unpatrolled in empowering ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities as the
very foundation of its political structure based on the principle of equality. The Government of Ethiopia is
determined to further secure equalities and harmony in the country. We put transparent and predictable
system to protect individuals and groups rights in the country. No one was subjected to any form of human
rights violation for being member of ethnic, linguistic or minority group.
The allegations by the African Rights Monitor is unfounded. This forum is meant to promote
respect for the rights of minorities and promote tolerance and coexistence. The kind of irresponsible
allegations run counter to these noble objectives. People living in Somali National Regional State of Ethiopia
are enjoying their constitutional rights. They form regional government with regional parliament, judicial and
executive branches.
The regional state's security is mainly maintained primarily by the ,regional police force. The
allegation on Ethiopian defence force is equally unfounded. The Ethiopian Defence Force c is famous by its
solid discipline. Our participation in several UN peace keeping mission portray this fact.
We call the African Rights Monitor to only use the forum to the cause of minorities.
I thank you.