[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15867]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                ETHIOPIA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I rise to express concern about 
recent events in Ethiopia. On May 15, 2005, 90 percent of registered 
Ethiopian voters went to the polls in the country's third election 
under its current constitution. Unfortunately, this historic election 
was marred by a disputed outcome. Because of the controversy over the 
election, civil unrest ensued. In responding to protests by opposition 
parties, the Government of Ethiopia acted with excessive force, killing 
36 protestors and arresting large numbers of demonstrators.
  Final results of the May election were due to be completed by the 
National Electoral Board first by June 8, then by July 8, and are still 
ongoing. Interim certified results from the Electoral Board indicate 
that approximately 40 percent of the vote is either still under 
investigation or in need of review, with one region of the country 
still to cast its ballots.
  Let me be crystal clear that the Government of Ethiopia must respect 
the neutrality of the Electoral Board and permit it to go about its 
work in a fair and impartial manner. I also call upon Kemal Bedri Kelo, 
chairman of the Electoral Board, to conduct the board's proceedings in 
a transparent, fair and evenhanded fashion in order to ensure that the 
board's ultimate decision is respected by all sides.
  Ethiopia is an ally of the United States. But that friendship could 
be strained by failure of the Ethiopian Government to observe 
international norms in its elections, failure by the Government to 
abide by the rule of law or failure by opposition groups to avoid 
overheated rhetoric. As chairman of the State/Foreign Operations 
subcommittee, I will be keeping a close eye on events in Ethiopia as 
they continue to unfold.

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