Ethiopia says recent US resolution untimely, inappropriate

ADDIS ABABA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government Wednesday said the recent resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, which condemned the Ethiopia's human rights and governance record, was untimely and inappropriate.

The resolution passed on Tuesday called on the Ethiopian government to lift the state of emergency rule, end the use of excessive force by security forces, investigate the killings and excessive use of force that took place amid protests in Ethiopia's two largest regional states Oromia and Amhara regions.

It also stressed release of dissidents, activists and journalists "who have been imprisoned for exercising constitutional rights."

"This simple resolution is counterproductive and is against the important partnership between the U.S. and Ethiopia," the Ethiopian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Those members of the House who cosponsored the resolution conspicuously failed to recognize the changing reality on the ground. Indeed, these members of the House merely wanted to please their constituencies," it said.

The ministry said the House ignores the positive strides the country has made recently.

According to the ministry, Ethiopia's ruling party and its government have been launching bold reforms aimed at increasing transparency and widening the country's democratic space -- some of these initiatives include releasing prisoners, and working on stabilizing the situation in the region.

Noting the commitments made by Ethiopia's new prime minister Abiy Ahmed to urgently undertake multifaceted reforms, the ministry stressed that "that is why the Government of Ethiopia believes H.Res.128 is untimely and inappropriate."

"At this crucial juncture, when the government is working to implement bold reforms, this resolution tries to undermine the new political dynamism and fails to recognize the call by the Prime Minister to create all inclusive political platform," the ministry said.

"While Ethiopia values its bilateral relations with the United States and works to promote regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the resolution undermines its sovereignty," the statement added. Enditem