The European Commission called on Friday on the United States and other major Covid-19 vaccine producers to export what they make as the European Union does, rather than talk about waiving intellectual property rights to the shots.
Commission head Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference on the sidelines of a summit of EU leaders that discussions on the waiver would not produce a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine in the short- to medium-term.
“We should be open to lead this discussion. But when we lead this discussion, there needs to be a 360 degree view on it because we need vaccines now for the whole world,” she said.
“The European Union is the only continental or democratic region of this world that is exporting at large scale,” von der Leyen said.
She said about 50% of European-produced coronavirus vaccine is exported to almost 90 countries, including those in the World Health Organization-backed COVAX program.
“And we invite all those who engage in the debate of a waiver for IP rights also to join us to commit to be willing to export a large share of what is being produced in that region,” she said.
Only higher production, removing exports barriers and the sharing of already-ordered vaccines could immediately help fight the pandemic quickly, she said.
“So what is necessary in the short term and the medium term: First of all vaccine sharing. Secondly export of vaccines that are being produced. And the third is investment in the increasing of the capacity to manufacture vaccines.”
Von der Leyen said the European Union had started its vaccine sharing mechanism, citing delivery of 615,000 doses to the Western Balkans as an example.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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**Leftovers from winemaking could eventually be repurposed as a food supplement.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, studied the grape skins, seeds and other residue left after grapes have been crushed for wine.
Analysis shows it contains health-enhancing compounds and particular sugar molecules that researchers say could be developed into products to benefit human health.
**The federal government is facing another lawsuit over The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the provision that aids farmers of color.
A group of farmers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois and Ohio filed the suit, alleging they’re ineligible for COVID-19 stimulus loan forgiveness because they’re white.
They argue, according to www.agweb.com, the Biden administration’s stimulus plan only provides loan forgiveness to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, defined as Black, American Indian, Hispanic or Pacific Islander, violating white farmers’ constitutional rights.
**U.S. beef gained greater access to the European Union in 2020 through a country-specific quota aimed at allowing more U.S. products in at zero duty.
But with most U.S. beef cuts traditionally consumed in Europe‘s foodservice and hospitality sectors, the U.S. struggled to fully capitalize due to widespread restrictions.
U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Yuri Barutkin says the silver lining is that European distributors made more U.S. beef available to the retail sector where it captured the attention of European consumers.
Respectful of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, participants exchanged views on the current status of the Afghanistan peace process and discussed ways to support the Afghan people’s desire for a just and lasting peace. To that end, participants:
Acknowledged the widespread and sincere demand of the Afghan people for an end to the war and a fair and lasting peace, and confirmed that such a peace can only be achieved through an inclusive, negotiated political settlement among Afghans. Participants affirmed their commitment to UNSC resolution 2513 (2020) and emphasised that they oppose the establishment in Afghanistan of any government by force which would constitute a threat to regional stability.
Highlighted the need to accelerate the pace of the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace negotiations and committed to work with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Taliban, and other Afghan political and civil society leaders to reach a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement and political compromise that ends the war for the benefit of all Afghans and that contributes to regional stability and global security.
Expressed appreciation to the Government of Qatar for its long-standing contribution to facilitate the peace process, including hosting and supporting Afghanistan Peace Negotiations since September 12th, 2020, and underlined their support for the continuation of discussions between the parties’ negotiating teams in Doha. Appreciated the offer from the Republic of Turkey, the United Nations and the State of Qatar to co-convene a senior-level peace conference in Istanbul and welcomed plans for related events to channel civil society voices into the process. Urged the immediate resumption, without pre-conditions, of substantive negotiations on the future of Afghanistan with the aim to develop and negotiate realistic compromise positions on power sharing that can lead to an inclusive and legitimate government and a just and durable settlement.
Welcomed an expanded role for the United Nations in contributing to the Afghanistan peace and reconciliation process, including by leveraging its considerable experience and expertise in supporting other peace processes.
Strongly condemned the continued violence in Afghanistan for which the Taliban are largely responsible and demanded all parties to take immediate and necessary steps to reduce violence and in particular, to avoid civilian casualties in order to create an environment conducive to reaching a political settlement. Participants further called on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law in all circumstances, including those related to protection of civilians, and urged all sides to immediately agree on steps that enable the successful implementation of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
In this regard, participants called upon the Taliban to stop their undeclared spring offensive, to refrain from attacks against civilians, and to stop immediately all attacks in the vicinity of hospitals, schools, universities, mosques and other civilian areas. In particular, participants demanded an immediate end to the campaign of targeted assassinations against civil society leaders, the clergy, journalists and other media workers, human rights defenders, healthcare personnel, judicial employees and other civilians.
Following the April 14 announcement by the United States and NATO that U.S. and Resolute Support Mission forces will conduct an orderly, coordinated and deliberate withdrawal from Afghanistan, to be concluded by September 11, 2021 participants reiterated that during the withdrawal, the safety of international troops must be ensured and that any Taliban attacks on our troops during this period will be met with a forceful response. Participants stressed that the process of the troop withdrawal must not serve as an excuse for the Taliban to suspend the peace process and that good-faith political negotiations must proceed in earnest.
In light of this withdrawal of forces, the participants recommitted to a strong and enduring partnership with Afghanistan, its governing and security institutions and its people. Participants also agreed that substantial international development assistance will be needed for Afghanistan’s stability during peace negotiations and reaffirmed their commitment to mobilize international support for reconstruction following a peace agreement, based on the conditions as laid out in the outcome documents of the 2020 Geneva Conference, including the preservation and respect for the rights of all Afghans, including women and minorities. Participants underscored their commitment to conditional civilian assistance to Afghanistan beyond a military withdrawal with the aim of ensuring a better future for the Afghan people.
Reaffirmed that any peace agreement must protect the rights of all Afghans, including women, youth and minorities, and must respond to the strong desire of Afghans to sustain and build on the economic, social, political and development gains achieved since 2001, including greater adherence to the rule of law, respect for Afghanistan’s international obligations, and improvements in inclusive and accountable governance. Highlighted that the Afghan parties’ ownership and leadership of intra-Afghan negotiations is important for a successful outcome. Reiterated that a stable, safe and prosperous Afghanistan is dependent on women playing full and meaningful roles in the peace negotiations and all parts of society, including in government.
Underscored that the Taliban and the Government of the Islamic Republic must fulfil their counterterrorism commitments including to prevent al-Qaida, Da’esh or other terrorist groups and individuals from using Afghan soil to threaten or violate the security of any other country; not to host members of these groups; and to prevent them from recruiting, training or fundraising.
Reiterated that diplomatic personnel and property are inviolable, and that the perpetrators of any attack or threat on foreign diplomatic personnel and properties in Afghanistan must be held accountable.
Underscored that – while fully respecting the right of the Afghan people to self-determination – the countries and organisations represented at this meeting strongly advocate a durable and just political resolution that will result in the formation of a sovereign, unified, peaceful and democratic Afghanistan, free of terrorism and an illicit drug industry, which contributes to regional stability and global security.
Reaffirmed that current and future support to any Afghan government relies on the adherence to the principles set out in the Afghanistan Partnership Framework and progress towards the outcomes in the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework II as decided upon at the November 2020 Geneva donor’s conference.
Participants called upon the Government of the Islamic Republic to effectively fight corruption and promote good governance, and to implement anti-corruption legislation. Participants stressed their conviction that widespread corruption undermines the foundations of the Republic as well as the ability of the international community to continue to support Afghan institutions.
Urged the Taliban to facilitate access for delivery of humanitarian aid, without preconditions and in accordance with international humanitarian law, to the parts of the country under their effective control.
Stressed the importance of fighting illegal drug production and trafficking and urged both sides to eliminate the drug threat in and from Afghanistan.
Agreed that continued international support to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces will be necessary to ensure Afghanistan can defend itself against internal and external threats.
Encouraged all concerned countries, in particular Afghanistan’s neighbours and countries of the region, to continue to support the Afghan people and constructively contribute to a lasting peace settlement and sustainable economic development in the interest of all.
Thanked the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the negotiating team of the Taliban for their important contributions to today’s meeting via video and for the frank and open discussion on challenging issues.
Expressed their appreciation to the German government for organizing these consultations and agreed to set the date and venue of the next meeting through diplomatic channels.
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NEW DELHI: India and the European Union in Saturday’s summit will agree to resume negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement, sources in the European Union said. The talks will resume after a eight-year hiatus. “The FTA package will include an investment protection pact as well as a framework on geographical indication,” sources said.
The negotiations for the FTA were first launched in 2007 but hit a hurdle subsequently in 2013 after the two sides could not agree on key issues like tariff, data security and market access. Sources also added that the two sides are likely to announce a connectivity partnership to enhance ties in the railway, maritime and aviation sectors.
Trilateral meet
India, France and Australia held their first in-person trilateral on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in London and said agreed that fair and equitable access to a safe and affordable Covid-19 vaccine is crucial.
After eight years, India and the European Union are set to resume negotiations for an ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreement. An announcement on the formal resumption is expected to be made at a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top leadership of the 27-nation grouping on Saturday.
Official sources in the EU also said the free trade agreement package will include an investment protection pact as well as a framework on geographical indication.
Launched in June 2007, the FTA talks between India and the EU hit a roadblock in May 2013 when the two sides failed to bridge substantial gaps on crucial issues, including tariff, data security status for the IT sector and market access.
India and the EU will agree to resume the negotiations at the virtual summit between Prime Minister Modi and top leadership of the bloc, sources said Thursday.
The two sides are also likely to announce a connectivity partnership at the summit that is aimed at boosting cooperation in sectors like railway, maritime and aviation as well as in the digital domain to bring people of the two sides closer to each other, sources said.
Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to visit Portugal for the India-EU summit but it was called off because of the coronavirus crisis. Both sides then decided to hold the deliberations virtually.
A strategically important grouping for India, the EU as a whole was country’s largest trading partner in 2018. India’s bilateral trade with the EU in 2018-19 stood at $15.6 billion with exports valued at $57.17 billion and imports worth $58.42 billion.
(JNS) The European Council on Thursday added Israel to the list of countries for which E.U. members are recommended to gradually begin lifting coronavirus-related travel restrictions.
Other countries on the list currently include Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and China, though the latter’s place on the list is “subject to confirmation of reciprocity,” the Council said in a statement. The list will be reviewed every two weeks.
The recommendation is not legally binding, and individual E.U. member states are not obligated to implement it.
Also on Thursday, the Tel Aviv Municipality released a statement declaring the city “ready for the return of international tourists” and “promising a safe and exceptional urban experience for new and returning visitors alike.”
“Incoming tourism is an integral part of the identity of Tel Aviv-Yafo, and I am excited to host you again soon,” said Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai. “Your safety and health are a top priority for the city’s entire tourism industry. Alongside international-standard service and hospitality, we will do everything to ensure that you have fun and return home safely,” he added.
Israeli Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen announced on April 27 that Israel will begin admitting a limited number of vaccinated groups to enter the country toward the end of May, with the aim of fully reopening to all vaccinated travelers in July.
Military cooperation in the European Union will get a boost as the 27 nation bloc is admitting for the first time outside partners such as the United States, Canada and Norway into one of its projects, Germany said on Thursday.
“It will be a quantum leap in terms of concrete cooperation,” German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said ahead of the first in-person meeting with her EU counterparts in over a year in Brussels.
The EU project on military mobility is designed to facilitate the movement of troops across Europe, something NATO deems as crucial in the event of a conflict with Russia.
While NATO has spearheaded efforts to reduce conflicting regulations across 27 EU countries for transfers of U.S. troops, the EU has a budget to back the reconstruction of bridges too weak for tanks and has more power over changing bloc-wide rules.
“Talking about military mobility, making sure that troops can be moved across borders within Europe is a very important issue not only for the European Union but also for NATO,” Kramp-Karrenbauer said.
The decision, to be formally taken by EU defence ministers on Thursday, means NATO members Norway, Canada and the United States also become the first foreign countries to collaborate in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) pact, which aims to deepen defence ties.
The pact was agreed by EU leaders in December 2017 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
The bloc has since earmarked 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) from its joint budget until 2028 to improve so-called military mobility in support of NATO. The NATO alliance has 30 allies, many of whom are also EU members.
Military mobility aims at improving the exchange of information between EU countries and cutting red tape at borders, including harmonising customs rules to allow for swift deployments and easier transport of military equipment.
At their meeting in Brussels, EU defence ministers will also discuss the situation on the Ukrainian border where Russia had concentrated tens of thousands of troops a few weeks ago, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell said.
European Union defense ministers on Thursday were discussing plans to set up a military training mission in Mozambique in the coming months to help the government there take control of parts of the southern African country held by extremist rebels.
The UN World Food Programme recently warned that the humanitarian crisis caused by the extremist insurgency in the north of Mozambique is rapidly spiraling, with more than 950,000 people in urgent need of food aid.
The French energy firm Total said late last month that it had halted all operations on its $20 billion investment in a liquefied natural gas project in northern Mozambique due to the rebel offensive.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels that developments in the country are becoming “more and more an issue of concern.”
“The Mozambique government has been asking for help. We will try to send a training mission (like) the one we have in the Sahel in order to contain the security situation,” Borrell said. Since 2013, the EU has been helping to train Mali‘s army and rebuild its defense institutions in a noncombat mission.
Such a mission in Mozambique could be launched in the second half of 2021 and the 27-nation bloc is weighing whether to supply the army there with military equipment.
The 16-nation Southern African Development Community is also weighing whether to send more than 2,500 regional troops to Mozambique to help battle the rebels.
The fact that the European Parliament (EP) calls the Armenian terrorists “prisoners of war” is a manifestation of an unfair approach, Azerbaijani MP Afet Hasanova told Trend.
According to Hasanova, the appeal of the members of the European Parliament to the heads of the European Commission and the EU with a demand to return “Armenian prisoners” from Azerbaijan is another manifestation of double standards, bias, and injustice.
The people whom the MEPs call “Armenian prisoners of war” are terrorists and criminals, and the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry timely informed the world community about this, she said.
But in reality, terrorists are those Armenian servicemen who committed armed provocations on the territory of Azerbaijan after the trilateral agreement of November 10, 2020, and were neutralized by the Azerbaijani side, the MP stressed.
As it is known, according to the agreement of November 10, Azerbaijan handed over more than 70 prisoners of war to Armenia, while Armenia returned 12 prisoners of war to Azerbaijan, Hasanova noted.
“The issue raised by the EP arose about a month after the signing of the agreement on November 10, 2020. As a result of the actions of the Armenian troops and provocations in the territories controlled by Azerbaijan, according to the document, four Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and one civilian was wounded,” she added.
“As a result of the operation carried out by Azerbaijan, the Armenian sabotage group was neutralized, 62 people were detained. Following the investigation, the fact of the transfer of these people to Azerbaijani territories on November 26 was confirmed. All of them are residents of Armenia. According to Azerbaijani legislation, all these people have committed a crime,” the MP said.
“Everyone knows that in order to call a person a prisoner of war, there must be hostilities. However, if military operations are not being conducted, such people can only be called terrorists. Azerbaijan has informed international organizations about this, emphasizing that such actions pose a serious threat to security in the region, and also noted the importance of exerting serious pressure on Armenia,” Hasanova noted.
“The EP is surely aware of this, but it still raises this issue, demonstrating double standards and prejudice towards Azerbaijan,” she said.
The MP noted that if the European Parliament is so fair, then it should raise the issue of 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing during the first Karabakh war.
“Why is the European Parliament not worried about the issue of Armenia setting mines all over Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied lands, which ave been under occupation for 30 years?! This structure turns a blind eye to the death of people from these mines, does not say a word about Armenia’s refusal to provide Azerbaijan with maps of mined territories, but demands the return of so-called “prisoners of war”,” the MP added.
On the invitation of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a meeting of the Council on Saturday as a special invitee.
The India-EU Leaders’ Meeting is being hosted by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa. Portugal currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
An official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said that Prime Minister Modi will participate in the virtual meeting along with the heads of all the 27 EU Member States. The EU+27 have met in this format only once before, with US President Joe Biden in March this year.
The leaders will exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic and healthcare cooperation; fostering sustainable and inclusive growth; strengthening the India-EU economic partnership as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The India-EU Leaders’ Meeting is an unprecedented opportunity for discussion with all the leaders of the EU Member States. It is a significant political milestone and will further build on the momentum witnessed in the relationship since the 15th India-EU Summit in July 2020.
European Commission Speech Brussels, 06 May 2021 I am very honoured that you invited me to this very important conference where everyone who works on countering disinformation and foreign interference should b…
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The European Union will allow the United States, Norway and Canada to join a project to overcome delays in moving troops across Europe, diplomats said on Wednesday, which NATO sees as vital in the event of a conflict with Russia.
While NATO has spearheaded efforts to reduce conflicting regulations across 27 EU countries for transfers of U.S. troops, the EU has a budget to back the reconstruction of bridges too weak for tanks and has more power over changing bloc-wide rules.
The decision, to be formally taken by EU defence ministers on Thursday, means NATO members Norway, Canada and the United States also become the first foreign countries to collaborate in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) pact, which aims to deepen defence ties.
The pact was agreed by EU leaders in December 2017 after Britain’s decision to leave the Union and Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
The bloc has since earmarked 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) from its joint budget until 2028 to improve so-called military mobility in support of NATO, and the Dutch-led project brings together 25 EU states – all but Malta and Denmark. The NATO alliance has 30 allies, many of whom are also EU members.
Military mobility aims at improving the exchange of information between EU countries and cutting red tape at borders, including harmonising customs rules to allow for swift deployments and easier transport of military equipment, diplomats said.
While there have been no specific talks with Britain, which along with France used to be among the EU’s biggest military powers, more foreign countries can seek to join, they added.
“It is also very important for transatlantic cooperation, good cooperation between EU members and NATO allies,” said one of the diplomats, who spoke under condition of anonymity.
Plans for an EU defence pact gained momentum as the former U.S. president, Donald Trump, lambasted European NATO allies for not spending enough on their own security. That prompted the bloc to call for “strategic autonomy”.
U.S. and NATO security guarantees remain the cornerstone of national security for many EU countries, however, especially for those on the eastern flank of the bloc worried about Russia.
While the EU’s flagship defence pact aims to help the bloc fund, develop and deploy armed forces together, it would not amount to joint military force.
(MENAFN – Jordan Times) AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday held two separate meetings with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels, covering means to bolster the strategic partnership between Jordan and the European Union, as well as efforts to counter COVID-19.
In the two meetings, King Abdullah expressed appreciation of the EU’s support for Jordan, stressing the importance of equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution among peoples to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all, according to a Royal Court statement.
For his part, European Council President Michel commended Jordan’s efforts in countering COVID-19, as well as ensuring that refugees in the Kingdom are included in the vaccine drive, adding that the EU is ready to enhance its cooperation with Jordan on countering the pandemic.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underscored that His Majesty remains one of the EU’s most important partners, commending the King’s diplomatic efforts in building bridges and enhancing dialogue and understanding among peoples.
President von der Leyen added that Jordan is an anchor of stability in the region, saying ‘you can count on us always’.
Discussions at the two meetings also covered regional developments, especially the Palestinian cause and latest developments in Jerusalem.
His Majesty stressed the importance of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The meeting also addressed regional and international efforts to counter terrorism and extremism within a holistic approach, and cooperation between Jordan and the EU in this regard.
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The European Union has apparently suspended efforts to ratify a massive trade deal with Communist China following intense backlash on issues such as human rights and a series of tit-for-tat sanctions.
In December, the European Commission signed in principle the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), which would have paved the way for some €120 billion in trade. The deal was preliminary, however, as it would have required ratification from the European Parliament and the governments of EU member states.
EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told the AFP news agency on Tuesday that the Commission has abandoned attempts to ratify the deal.
“It’s clear in the current situation with the EU sanctions in place against China and Chinese counter-sanctions in place, including against members of European Parliament (that) the environment is not conducive for ratification of the agreement,” Dombrovskis said.
“We now in a sense have suspended… political outreach activities from the European Commission side,” Dombrovskis added.
The Eurocrat did, however, leave the door open to a possible renewal of the trade efforts, saying that ratification of the deal “will depend really on how broader EU-China relations will evolve”.
German MEP and a vice-chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Hannah Neumann told the South China Morning Post that the deal will still likely be put before the parliament in May, but said that it is likely to be put “in the freezer…. as long as China upholds its sanctions against elected members of parliament as well as the human rights committee.”
‘Setback for the Free World’: EU Trade Deal with Communist China Draws Harsh Criticism https://t.co/CktU0dsAnG
In March, a collective effort between the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union saw sanctions levied against CCP officials and the Public Security Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, for their role in the alleged genocide being carried out against the Muslim Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.
The communist regime in Beijing, in turn, retaliated with sanctions against parliamentarians and lawyers in the UK and the EU. Undeterred by the sanctions, the United Kingdom’s Parliament voted in April to declare that a genocide is being committed in Xinjiang.
One of the key British campaigners in the effort to declare a genocide in Xinjiang, Benedict Rogers of Hong Kong Watch, told Breitbart London: “This decision by the EU [to suspend deal progress] is extremely welcome and exactly right, though it is important to note that it is only a suspension.”
“Unless the Chinese Communist Party regime completely, totally and irreversibly changes its behaviour, including stopping genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uyghurs, which has now been recognised by the Canadian, Dutch and UK Parliaments and by the US Administration, the repression in Hong Kong, Tibet and elsewhere, and its threatening behaviour towards Taiwan, the EU should not reinstate the agreement and indeed should move towards its termination.
“But the announcement of the suspension is the right move at this moment and one which is very welcome.”
Exclusive Video: UK Parliamentarians Declare China Is Committing Genocide in Xinjiang https://t.co/DhEYOFgVhB
In announcing the deal, the European Commission had initially described the investment pact as the “most ambitious agreement that China has ever concluded with a third country.”
The deal made no mention of human rights atrocities being committed by the communist regime and China merely pledged to “work towards” abolishing forced labour, which is alleged to be widespread, in the Xinjiang region in particular.
The deal was championed by German chancellor Angela Merkel, who pushed for it to be signed before Germany vacated its position as the head of the EU presidency in December.
Under the leadership of Merkel — who has called for cooperation with China on issues such as climate change — Germany has seen its economic reliance on the communist state increase to such an extent that it became the country’s top trading partner in 2018.
The European Union as a whole has also seen its trade with Beijing increase during the Chinese coronavirus crisis, with China becoming the bloc’s top trading partner in 2020, overtaking the United States for the first time.
Farage: European Union’s Greed Is Helping Communist China ‘Take Over the World’ https://t.co/VQphKAACee
All EU citizens have the right to vote for and stand as a candidate in European Parliament elections in their country of origin, or if they live in another EU country, they may choose to vote and stand there, under the same conditions as the nationals of that country.
EU citizens who live in another EU country also have the right to vote and stand as candidate in local or municipal elections in the country they live in, again under the same conditions as the nationals of that country.
The EU has issued a directive which explains the detail of how the right to vote and stand as a candidate in local and municipal elections in the country in which you live works. It includes some limited exceptions, principally
national governments may decide that the leaders of local and municipal governments (mayors, heads of local authorities etc – this is defined in the directive) can only be one of their own nationals.
national governments may require a minimum period of residence for EU citizens to participate in local elections if more than 20% of the voting population are non-nationals – this is very rare
The Commision publishes reports on the implementation of EU law in local and municipal elections and ways to promote electoral rights. The most recent was announced in February 2018.
The Commission is currently assessing a revision of the directive. To inform its work, a public consultation has been launched which will be available until 12 July 2021.
In a new major operation against international drug trafficking and money laundering, Eurojust and Europol have supported the competent Italian and German authorities with the arrest of 31 suspects in both countries, alleged to be part of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, operating in different regions of Italy and abroad. Further to this, in the context of a joint investigation team (JIT) between Italy and Germany, 65 other suspects have been identified and their places were searched during a large-scale action, for which around 800 police officers and tax officials were deployed today in both countries.
Today’s actions are a follow up to the Eurojust and Europol coordinated Operation Pollino, during which already 84 suspects were arrested in December 2018 in the two aforementioned countries, as well as Belgium and the Netherlands. In view of today’s operation, a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for one of the main and already sentenced Pollino suspects, who was recently taken into custody in Spain and is awaiting surrender to Italy.
During the investigations, Eurojust assisted Italy and Germany in setting up a JIT and to ensure proper coordination of investigations, concerning two particular strands of an organised crime group (OCG), which amongst others is suspected of involvement with international drug trafficking and money laundering activities.
During a period of at least several years, the OCG is suspected of having organised the trade in cocaine between Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain using encrypted EncroChat and Sky ECC communication tools. A string of building and hospitality companies was allegedly used to launder the proceedings in Italy. The investigations in Germany focus in particular on drug trafficking and potential tax avoidance. For this purpose, financial and economic specialists of the German police joined the JIT.
The operation was carried out on the ground in Italy by the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA) under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor of Turin and of the National Antimafia Bureau (DNAA). In Germany, the operation was coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Konstanz, in cooperation with the Criminal Police of Friedrichshafen and the Economic and Financial Police of Ulm.
Both agencies have assisted the Italian and German authorities during the whole cycle of the investigations. Europol supported the operation by coordinating the international law enforcement activities and providing expertise through its dedicated Analysis Project on Italian Organised Crime (AP ITOC). Eurojust set up a coordination centre and organised two coordination meetings, to prepare for the action day.
In total at least several hundreds of thousands EUR have been seized, as well as weapons, cocaine, two luxury vehicles and jewelry. Furthermore, a full assessment of cash amounts seized is ongoing and bank accounts have been frozen.
This investigation is part of the Italian DIA Project ONNET, an EU-financed initiative to tackle mafia-type organised crime groups active in Europe. The project was launched at Europol’s headquarters and targets the mafia-style criminal groups in their entirety, rather than one or more of their specific criminal activities.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a complete unknown without much trajectory only two years ago, is consolidating her position as a political phenomenon. The Madrid president and PP candidate is the big winner of the elections in the Community of Madrid, where she has swept to the point of winning more seats than the three left-wing parties combined, which will allow her to govern comfortably and without needing Vox for every law. The right-wing bloc has clearly strengthened and won 78 seats (65 for the PP and 13 for Vox) compared to 58 for the left (24 for Más Madrid, 24 for the PSOE and 10 for Podemos). Just two years ago, the difference between the two blocs was four MPs. Madrid thus swings even further to the right, but thanks to the spectacular increase of the PP, because Vox is left with a result very similar to that of two years ago.
The hard blow to the left has an immediate consequence: Pablo Iglesias leaves all his positions in Podemos and will not stay in the regional Assembly: “I will not be a stopper for a new leadership. I don’t know what destiny is, walking I was what I was”, he said as a farewell quoting Silvio Rodríguez after pointing to Yolanda Díaz as his successor.
A historic turnout, 11 points higher than in 2019, has not only not lifted the left, but has sunk it much further, especially due to the collapse of the PSOE, which has just won the elections in Catalonia, but has hit a bump in Madrid with a fall of more than 10 points that lead it to have the worst result in its history, and to tie in seats with a formation with hardly any means such as Más Madrid, which at the last moment of the count achieved a historic first place on the left by just over 4,000 votes.
Díaz Ayuso has not achieved an absolute majority – she is just four seats short – but the abstention of Vox would be enough for her to be invested. It now remains to be seen whether or not this group will want to enter the Madrid government, although the results make that possibility unlikely.
The left has failed in its attempt to seek a turnaround by mobilising the southern vote. The key to this fiasco is the PSOE’s collapse, which in less than two years has lost a good part of its support, despite having the same candidate who in 2019 amply won the elections in the community, Ángel Gabilondo, although he was unable to govern because the right-wing bloc had more seats than the left-wing bloc.
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Joseph “Dumbbell” Borrell
For months, I have been predicting and warning the U.S. and the European Union are locked in a conspiracy to delegitimize the June 5, 2021 Ethiopian parliamentary election.
In my February 14, 2021 commentary, I laid out my case on the U.S./E.U. conspiracy to “sabotage democratic reform in Ethiopia and undermine confidence in the 2021 Election”.
I provided further explanation on that conspiracy in my March 2, 2021 commentary, “(War)game of Thrones and Delegitimize the 2021 Election”.
We are now beginning to see the wheels of that conspiracy spinning.
On May 3, 2021, Joseph Borrel, Vice President of the European Commission, issued a statement announcing cancellation of deployment of the European Union Electoral Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Ethiopia because “it was not possible to reach an agreement with Ethiopian authorities on key parameters.”
Borrell’s statement provided no inkling on the “key parameters” that prevented an agreement.
However, Ambassador Dina Mufti, the spokesperson of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exposed the reasons for the cancellation with crystal clarity:
(Commentary author’s translation.) The reasons the European Union cancelled its observer mission deployment in Ethiopia are clear. They raised two issues. Both issues are anti-Ethiopian sovereignty, affront Ethiopian independence and endanger Ethiopian national security.
First, they insisted on bringing in a technology called VSAT which completely bypasses the Ethiopian telecommunications system.
There are two things to note. Now and in previous times — there have been six previous elections in Ethiopia — such a question has never been presented from any election observer group.
Second, in light of the existing circumstances, all of the locations to be monitored by election observers have full telecommunication access under the national Ethiopian telecommunication system. They can use the system. But they EU EOM wants to deploy a technology that is outside the control and supervision of our national telecommunication system. That is the same as demanding to administer a superordinate telecommunication system in our country. It is clear that is what they want to deploy.
Why they want to have a superordinate telecommunication system is not clear. If their aim is to observe the election, they can do so. The security situation is safe. There is accessibility and there is communication. They are welcome to conduct their observations.
However, they insist on bringing in their own VSAT technology. That is what they are demanding.
Second, they demanded that they be the first to make a statement on the election before the official Ethiopian Elections Commission makes its statement. We said, “You cannot do that.”
Such a demand cannot be met under the election law of any country, in our country or in any foreign country. Even they will not contemplate allowing such a thing in their own country.
Our Election Commission is duly authorized by law to administer elections and issue authoritative statements. It is an independent entity. But they want to override the Election Commission and make the first statement on the election.
From the start, it is the Ethiopian people who certify our election and then the Ethiopian Election Commission, an independent body.
What they are effectively saying is, “You cannot have an election we have not approved.”
These are the reasons why they canceled their observer mission.
It is they who asked to come and observe in the first place. They said they have an observer team ready. But now they concoct these two reasons in refusing to come.
What they are demanding of us as a sovereign and independent country is equivalent of saying, “I come into your house and command, ‘You’ll sleep on the floor. You’ll sleep under the bed. You’ll sit up in the chair all night long.”
There is no country in the world that will allow such a thing.
Unless it is a colony.
Such are the facts.
European Union Election Observer Mission Demands Violate Its Own Code of Conduct and Handbook for European Union Election Observation
The EU EOM has glaringly lacked transparency in disclosing its reasons (“parameters” resulting in disagreement) for cancelling its observer mission.
It is ironic that EU EOM can talk the talk on transparency but cannot talk the walk.
If the EU is going to take such major action and cancel its observer mission after inviting itself (contrary to its own policy, see below) to Ethiopia, it should come clean and tell the world its reasons.
Unless, of course, the cancellation is part of EU EOM’s dirty tricks game being played on Ethiopia.
Let’s look at the facts.
First, the EU EOM’s demand to bring its own VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a clear violation of its own rules and principles.
VSAT is a private earth station designed to transmit and retrieve data signals via satellite.
Using VSAT, the EU EOM will be able to establish a completely independent voice, internet and intranet communication system with public and private networks outside of control and oversight of the Ethiopian telecommunication system.
1. Observers will respect the laws of the land. They enjoy no special immunities as international observers, unless the host country so provides. 2. Observers must comply with all national laws and regulations.
EU election observation missions do not interfere in the organisation of the election itself. Instead, they collect and analyse factual information concerning the election process and provide an independent public assessment.”
3.6 Cooperation with the host country EU observers respect and adhere to the laws of the host country. An EU EOM is deployed only after receipt of an invitation from the State and/ or the electoral authorities of the host country. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the EU and the host country (usually one with the Election Management Body (EMB) and one with the government) outline the rights and responsibilities of both parties… The MOUs provide guarantees that the EU EOM is able to enjoy the necessary conditions for effective and credible observation which include:
– unimpeded access to all aspects of the electoral process and to all persons concerned with the election; – the freedom to operate without interference, including the freedom to issue public statements and reports; – the freedom of movement around the country and conditions that ensure the safety and security of EU observers; – the issuing of appropriate accreditation by the electoral authorities, which should be provided on a non-discriminatory basis; – guarantees that there will be no adverse action against its national or foreign staff or others who assist the EU EOM with its work.
3.7 Openness in findings and visibility in work An EU EOM issues a public preliminary statement shortly after voting has been completed (usually within 48 hours) at a press conference, where the Chief Observer is open to questions…
Moreover, the EU EOM specifically describes the role of its mission on election day as follows:
On election day, observers visit pooling (sic) stations in order to observe the opening, voting, counting and aggregation of results.
The facts are:
1) Borrell and EU EOM have flagrantly violated EU-established elections observation Code of Conduct, handbook and policies;
2) the EU EOM under the leadership of Joseph Borrell invited itself to observe the June 5 Ethiopian election without an invitation by the Ethiopian Government in violation of its own Code of Conduct;
3) Borrell and the EU EOM, by demanding exceptional accommodations for deployment of VSAT technology and the right to issue a first statement on the election results, acted in flagrant violation of Ethiopian laws and the legal duties of the Ethiopian Elections Commission in violation breaching its own Code of Conduct and Handbook;
4) by pressuring the Ethiopian government to compromise its sovereignty, independence and right to self-determination, Borrell and the EU EOM violated their own Code of Conduct, Handbook and and international law.
The hypocrisy of the European Union
The EU EOM has a strange history of election observation in Ethiopia.
In its 2005 Final Report, the EU EOM reported, “… the counting and aggregation processes were marred by irregular practices, confusion and a lack of transparency. Overall, therefore, the elections fell short of international principles for genuine democratic elections.
On August 30, 2005, the late TPLF boss Meles Zenawi incinerated the European Union Election Observer Report:
The [EU EOM] statement, in my view, shows that the mission has turned out to be something worse than a farce. We shall, in the coming days and weeks, see what we can do to expose the pack of lies and innuendoes that characterise the garbage in this report. … What the implications of this will be in terms of relations between Ethiopia and the EU we will have to wait and see. But I don’t think you will be surprised if Ethiopia were to insist that it should not be patronised…
After being trashed by TPLF leader Meles Zenawi over the 2005 election, the EU provided millions in budget support to the TPLF regime.
EU EOM slithered back to observe the 2010 election.
It is foolish to believe the ‘2010 election’ will make any difference in the lives of Ethiopians. It is an election about NOTHING; and we should condemn it as a travesty and caricature of democracy and a shameless mockery of popular sovereignty.
The EU EOM did not register a complaint or cancel its observer mission in 2010, despite the fact that the Meles-TPLF regime had humiliated and demeaned it as a bunch of “election garbage reporters”.
The EU EOM knew full well that the 2010 parliamentary election was going to be stolen. They had documented it in 2005. They had every reason to press the TPLF regime to correct the problems and issues in the 2005 election or withdraw from the 2010 observation to preserve their integrity.
But they did not.
They showed to observe the 2010 as if all of the problems in 2005 had been resolved.
In the 2010 election, the TPLF claimed to have won 99.6 percent of seats in parliament. In its 2010 Final Report, the EU EOM stated, “The electoral process fell short of certain international commitments, notably regarding the transparency of the process and the lack of a level playing field for all contesting parties.”
De ja vu 2005!
Ambassador Dina Mufti in his press conference made a critical observation:
It is they [EU EOM] who asked to come and observe in the first place. They said they have an observer team ready. But now they concoct these two reasons to refuse to come.
3.6 Cooperation with the host country EU observers respect and adhere to the laws of the host country. An EU EOM is deployed only after receipt of an invitation from the State and/ or the electoral authorities of the host country.
For the 2015 election, the EU decided not to send an EU EOM because its previous recommendations to Ethiopia were ignored.
At the time Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Redwan Hussien noted:
“Whatever prescription they made, it had nothing to do with the election. It has to do with the entire democratic system, and legal system and policy issues. So we didn’t subscribe to it because it has nothing to do with elections.”
Joseph Borrell is an ignoramus who has had a special long knife to cut Ethiopia
It is manifest that Joseph Borrell is an ignoramus.
If not, he must think Ethiopians are dumb as hell and won’t be able to figure out his intrigue.
Borrell pontificates about EU EOM integrity, transparency, rule of law, democracy, etc. However, he has not even read the EU EOM Handbook or the Code of Conduct for EU Election Observers which mandate integrity, transparency etc.
Albert Einstein said, “The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”
I say, “Democracy cannot bloom in Africa not because the ‘African savages’ are incapable of creating and thriving in it, but because of those who carry the White Man’s Burden and toil day and night to make Africa a dangerous place to live for Africans. Regrettably, few have the courage to stand up and do something about it.”
Borrell, a good friend of Tedros Adhanom, (a member of the terrorist organization Tigray People’s Liberation Front) and current Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has threatened, bullied and made good on his threat against Ethiopia by championing the TPLF terrorist cause.
In December 2020, the EU announced it is “withholding nearly 90 million euros ($109 million) in budget support payments due before the end of the year to Ethiopia because of the conflict in the northern Tigray region.”
Among the conditions to be fulfilled by the Government of Ethiopia for EU Budget Support to resume include: “Granting full humanitarian access for relief workers, access for civilians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, an end to ethnically targeted measures and hate speech, and restoring communication lines and media access in the Tigray region.”
Borrell said he told Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen that “in particular in the absence of full humanitarian access to all areas of the conflict, the EU cannot disburse the planned budget support to the Ethiopian government.”
The fact of the matter is that Borrell and the EU are violating their own policies, rules and guidelines on budget support:
The EU Budget Support Guidelines (p. 31) provide the specific criteria that must be met for disbursement, which completely negate the “conditions” cited by the EU:
4.1. Eligibility criteria for approval & disbursement
Budget support contracts are subject to the following four eligibility criteria covering:
➔ National/sector policies and reforms (“public policies”);
➔ Stable macro-economic framework;
➔ Public financial management; and
➔ Transparency and oversight of the budget
There is no requirement whatsoever that makes budget support contingent upon humanitarian access, refugees, hate speech and the rest.
The weaponization and politicization of budget support was made crystal clear in November 2020 by Hans Stausboll, head of unit for Eastern Africa, Horn of Africa at the European Commission’s development department
I would … not underestimate the political leverage we have collectively, the EU and the member states, when it comes to using in the appropriate way the financial cooperation in order to support our political goals.”
So, budget support is simply a political tool the EU uses to break the back of Ethiopia and make her lick the stinking boots of the European Union.
Joseph Borrell and the European Union should know one eternal fact: ETHIOPIANS USE BOOTS FOR ONE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY. KICK ASS!
If they Borrell and the EU don’t believe it, they should ask the descendants of the white Italian colonial imperialists who invaded Ethiopia in 1896 and 1935.
The FIX IS IN! The FIX WAS UNFIXED!
The U.S., with the invisible guiding hand of Susan Rice and the European Union, with the blathering mouth of Joseph Borrell, are working day and night to delegitimize the June 5, 2021 election.
Why are they doing it?
THE U.S. AND THE E.U. WANT TO BE THE KINGMAKERS IN ETHIOPIA. There is no doubt about it!
Here are some facts to consider:
The EU EOM announced its cancellation of its observer mission a month before the election to capture and sustain the narrative that the June 5 election will not be free and fair.
The reason the EU EOM insists on having its own VSAT is for twin purposes: 1) to use the Western press-titutes to spread disinformation on the election and control the international narrative, and 2) to deliver VSAT equipment to TPLF terrorists in Tigray and other terrorists throughout Ethiopia so they could conduct propaganda to destabilize Ethiopia.
The EU EOM desperately wanted to be the sole source of reliable election information to the Ethiopian people and shape public opinion on the outcome of the election by demanding that it be the first to issue a statement.
The EU believes it has bought the political souls of the Ethiopian people by dropping crumbs of $109 million for budget support.
The EU believes only the White Man who colonized the Black African for centuries knows what is best for him.
The EU and the U.S. are scared s**tless that a real democracy — a democracy they have not fabricated, massaged and manipulated, a democracy of African people, by African people, for African people — is going to take place in Ethiopia. What does that mean for the rest of Africa? The African “savages” are finally going to be free following the beacon of Ethiopia!
“Oh! no. The sky is falling on Africa. We gotta save Africans from themselves!”
The EU is declaring and walking out and by doing so send a signal to the Western world that the Ethiopian election not blessed by White men and women cannot possibly be free and fair. After all, the White Man invented free and fair elections.
The Princess of Darkness Susan Rice and her Axis of Evil will toil day and night to discredit and delegitimize the June 5, 2021 election in Ethiopia.
It is said that “Evil never sleeps.”
They are counting on the “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” sold out, lily-livered, chicken-hearted Ethiopians in Ethiopia and in the diaspora to carry their banner and spread their message.
Susan Rice, Jeffrey Feltman, Antony Blinken, Joe Borrell and the whole lot of them can scheme and do their voodoo dance to discredit and legitimize the June 5, 2021 election.
They will fail because we the Forces of Light are foreordained to defeat the Forces of Darkness!
VICTORY TO THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA!
Looking forward to dealing with more U.S/E.U. dirty tricks to sabotage the June 5, 2021 election!
My message to Joseph Borrell: Take your “garbage” observer mission along with your budget support and shove it…
I never mince my words.
My short message to Joseph “Dumbbell” Borrell: “Take your “garbage” observer mission along with your “garbage budget support” and shove them up your …
EUROPEAN UNION = ETHIOPIAN DISUNION.
Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam teaches political science at California State University, San Bernardino. His teaching areas include American constitutional law, civil rights law, judicial process, American and California state governments, and African politics. He has published two volumes on American constitutional law, including American Constitutional Law: Structures and Process (1994) and American Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (1998). He is the Senior Editor of the International Journal of Ethiopian Studies, a leading scholarly journal on Ethiopia. For the last several years, Prof. Mariam has written weekly web commentaries on Ethiopian human rights and African issues that are widely read online. He blogged on the Huffington post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alemayehu-g-mariam/ and later on open.salon until that blogsite shut down in March 2015.
Prof. Mariam played a central advocacy role in the passage of H.R. 2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007) in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007. Prof. Mariam also practices in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation. In 1998, he argued a major case in the California Supreme Court involving the right against self-incrimination in People v. Peevy, 17 Cal. 4th 1184, cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1042 (1998) which helped clarify longstanding Miranda rights issues in California criminal procedure. For several years, Prof. Mariam had a weekly public channel public affairs television show in Southern California called “In the Public Interest”. Prof. Mariam received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1984, and his J.D. from the University of Maryland in 1988.
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The European Union abandoned a plan to send monitors to observe elections in Ethiopia next month, citing concerns about security.
The decision risks undermining the credibility of a long-delayed vote that will be a critical test of reforms implemented by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. The nation’s electoral authorities are facing difficulties organizing the ballot because of unrest that’s flared in various parts of the country.
<p class="paywall">The EU canceled the observer mission after the Ethiopian government refused to fulfill “standard requirements” needed for its deployment, according to a statement on the bloc’s website. The vote is scheduled to take place on June 5.</p><p class="paywall">The EU’s conditions included the independence of the mission and the importing of communication systems needed “in the context of a challenging security environment,” the EU said. “It is disappointing that the EU has not received the assurances necessary to extend to the Ethiopian people one of its most visible signs of support for their quest for democracy.”</p><h3 id="government-surprise" class="paywall">Government Surprise</h3><p class="paywall">Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said in a statement it was unfortunate the EU had presented the need to import communication systems as a condition to monitor the vote.</p>
<p class="paywall">“As an important strategic partner and staunch supporter of the reform process, this demand by the EU has come as a surprise to the government of Ethiopia, as none of these elements were a bone of contention in past elections,” the ministry said.</p><p class="paywall">Unrest has flared in Ethiopia since Abiy began freeing up the country’s once tightly regulated political space after he came to power in April 2018. He’s given room for opposition parties and rebel groups to operate, which critics say has stoked fragmentation and long-suppressed rivalries among ethnic communities.</p>
<p class="paywall">Voting won’t take place in the northern Tigray region, where federal troops have since November been fighting dissident forces loyal to the state’s former ruling party. And the Oromo Federalist Congress, one of the nation’s biggest opposition parties, has said it won’t participate in the election with its leaders Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba still behind bars facing charges of terrorism and inciting ethnic violence.</p><h3 id="opposition-concerns" class="paywall">Opposition Concerns</h3><p class="paywall">Anti-government activists have flagged concerns about the nation’s preparedness for the polls.</p><p class="paywall">The opposition Afar People’s Party last month submitted a list of five complaints to the National Election Board of Ethiopia ranging from concerns over how voters are being registered to some of its candidates being fired from government positions.</p><p class="paywall">Adding to the complexity of the situation in the Afar region are border clashes with the neighboring Somali region, which have left more than 100 people dead in recent weeks, according to government officials.</p><p class="paywall">In the Amhara region, the opposition National Movement of Amhara last month raised concerns that the government has arbitrarily arrested and beaten demonstrators involved in protests held across the region against the killing of Amharans by rival ethnic militia groups.</p><p class="paywall">“The government is harassing and detaining Amhara youths, elders, and religious leaders who have spoken out, coordinated and led the protests for the citizens who were massacred,” the group said in a statement on April 28.</p><h3 id="amhara-attacks" class="paywall">Amhara Attacks</h3><aside class="left-rail-newsletter paywall"/><p class="paywall">Hundreds of Amhara citizens have been killed in recent months in the Benishangul-Gumuz region’s Metekel zone by ethnic Gumuz militia men as well as in Oromia’s West Wollega and Horo Gudru zones, according to the Amhara Association of America, a lobby group documenting attacks against Amharas.</p>
<p class="paywall">Solyana Shimeles, a spokesman for the Ethiopian National Election Board, didn’t respond to questions sent by email about the opposition’s grievances in the Afar region or the general conditions in the country for holding free and fair elections.</p>
<p class="paywall">The government is also grappling with widespread inter-communal violence elsewhere in the country. The Ministry of<span id="394801e0-acf8-11eb-ba06-fa163eeee231"> Defence</span> last month announced a state of emergency in the southern part of the Amhara region after gunmen killed an unspecified number of people in attacks between people belonging to the Amhara and Oromo ethnic groups.</p><p class="paywall">The Prime Minister’s office said last month that the government had established a National Election Security Committee comprising of the Federal Police, the Attorney General, the National Intelligence and Security Service, and the Ministry of<span id="394802c6-acf8-11eb-ba06-fa163eeee231"> Defence</span> “to ensure a peaceful and legitimate election.”</p><p class="paywall">The committee will try and identify areas where there is a risk of conflict and deal with any election-related grievances, the office said.</p><p class="paywall"><em>— With assistance by Paul Richardson, and Samuel Gebre</em></p>
(Updates with Ethiopian government comment in fifth paragraph)
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