List
of Speakers and Panelists on the 2nd Amsterdam Conference + some
Explanatory Notes.
June
2, 2007
Dr. Fisseha-Tsion Menghistu
Hadish-Tesfa Network
The Horn of Africa in general and the Ethio-Eritrean, as well as the North-South Conflicts and the tragedy on Darfur have been on the news for many years. Nearly all the states that constitute the wider Horn of Africa have one crisis or another.
Today it is no exaggeration to state that the Horn of Africa is one of the most volatile regions in the world. The region suffers from numerous political, socio-economic, moral, cultural and even identity crises. This it is said is particularly true with Eritrea. These perpetual conflicts of mutual destruction and annihilation are not only inhuman, cruel and anti developmental but also contribute to the bad image of the Horn of Africa.
According
to the recent report of the European Parliament
“ the Horn of Africa is one of most conflict-prone regions in the world as
well as being one of the poorest with a systematic insecurity
in which conflicts and political crises feed into and fuel one another,
with difficult inter-state relations, unstable, disputed, underdeveloped and
insecure borders, with states providing refuge, rearguard bases, military
support and diplomatic recognition to groups fighting wars in neighboring
states”.
(European Parliament Report on the Horn of Africa of 20-3-2007).
The root causes of the internal and external conflicts are many. However, solutions that will bring democracy, lasting peace, and development have become difficult to achieve in practice. The question is what are some of the internal and external factors that make the Horn one the most conflict-ridden regions in the world? This compels us to also reflect what is really wrong with the leaders and intellectuals of the region and why is it that the people of the region are suffering? Who is to blame and who is responsible to take care of the un acceptable state of abject poverty and other problems? Can the people of the region keep on blaming others for their misery and suffering? We strongly feel it is time to genuinely reflect and have an honest debate on what is wrong in the region, particularly in Eritrea.
We are therefore happy to announce that Development Services International (DSI) and Hadish-Tesfa Network (HTN) are hosting the 2nd Amsterdam conference for June 16-17, 2007 to be held at Free University in Amsterdam (see Venue and Direction to be posted soon)
NB: For a list of high level speakers
and panelists explaining why each of them is invited please see below.
Among
some of the high calibre Speakers and Panelists
at our 2nd
Amsterdam conference include:
1
A Member of
European Parliament
in Brussels to
explain the Draft Report on the
Horn of Africa: EU Regional Partnership for Peace, security and development
of 20-3-2007) Brussels
2
Head of
Unit, DG Development, European Commission, Brussels ( re: to
explain the EU Policy on Eritrea
and in the context of Isayas
Afewerki’s recent visit to
Brussels)
3
Deputy
Head, Africa Department and Head of the Horn of Africa, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, The
Hague ( re: to explain about Dutch Policy towards
Eritrea and the rest of the Horn of Africa)
4
Deputy
Director of the famous
International Institute of International Relations-Clingendael
(re: expert on facilitating Negotiations and conflict resolution issues)
5
Senior
policy Advisor, Good Governance & Peace Building, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, The Hague (re: to articulate what such concepts mean).
6
A known Italian Professor on Peace & Justice
Portal who will explain and some
light on Legal aspects of Ethio-Eritrea
Conflict & on Claims
Commission
7
A Professor from the Netherlands Institute
of Human Rights, University of Utrecht (re:
to articulate issue related about
human rights)
8
A
very famous South Africa, Senior Associate and Oppenheimer Fellow at St.
Anthony’s College, Oxford University
(re: to discuss why some Liberation Fronts and Movements (like in Eritrea)
have failed to deliver democracy)
9
A
Representative from Amnesty International (NL)
(re: to articulate and update about human right
violations in Eritrea and what the pre conditions are for promotion of
human rights)
10
A Representative of Dutch
Journalists Association (re: on the role of independent and responsible press/media
in democratisation process)
11
Representatives
of the various Political movements within and outside the Eritrean
Democratic Alliance EDA)
have been invited via an Open and Public announcement
in addition to my personal
talks with the representatives of the two major blocks of EDA and
the leaders of some other organizations during my
visit to Ethiopia (apparently after
nearly 33 years in exile). We like to stress
that we have repeatedly explained in Tigrigna via our articles posted at www.togoruba.org
and some other websites on 27-2- 2007;
7-3-2007, 5/6-4, 2007; 19-5, 2007; 20-5-2007; 25/26/27-5-2007. We
have
informed
and appealed all concerned to put the suffering and interest of
the people of Eritrea and the region first above any other personal and power
interests. Our plea is simple and clear:
Let us come and talk together and solve our own problems by ourselves
and narrow our differences and focus on our common enemy. NB: We are happy
to let it known that we have no problem of getting independent negotiation facilitators including Eritrean
Shimagles and wise men and women who are on stand by and who are willing
to help if need be
either for June 17 or in post conference negotiations.
12
Some high calibre representatives
of the various Civil Societies, Diasporas and women groups from the Horn of
Africa
13
A Representative of IKV Pax Christi
Netherlands (re: to explain Pax
Christi’s peace and reconciliation efforts in the Greater Horn of Africa)
14
A Professor from the Institute of Social
Studies, The Hague (re: to explain and articulate anything and everything about the definition,
role and limitations and positive contributions of Civil Societies and the
Diaspora)
15
A known
Ethiopian scholar who have been
active in Ethiopian student movement and politics for many years living and
working in Sweden
16
Some very
active women from Multi-cultural Women Peace Makers
Network and other Diaspora women organizations of the Horn.
17
Some representatives of some Eritrean civil societies and the Diaspora
in Europe including Asper in Italy to discuss
on the Role of Eritrean Civil Societies and the Diaspora in Promoting
democracy, peace and development in Eritrea
Explanatory
Notes:
1
Who
shall be speaker or a panellist and on what topic will be known later. While
June 16 is in English and educational and informative, June
17 is exclusively for Eritreans.
2
As in last year and as shown above, we
have an impressive list of speakers and panelists who have the
knowledge and expertise to shed some light to the complex socio-economic and
other problems of the region and particularly focused on Eritrea. We also have
a proper mix of experts from the Diaspora of the Horn of Africa as well as
other eminent speaker from South Africa now a Fellow at Oxford University.
3
The
reason why we have not mentioned the names of the speakers and panelists is
for good reason which we shall explain during our conference. This year, we
are honored to have not only one but two officials from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs who will come to share their thoughts at
our conference. Isayas’s Ambassador must know that unlike in Eritrea,
Holland is a democratic country where every one is free to express his/her
opinion.
4
Some of our agenda items will be
posted as soon as possible.
5
We
appeal to all concerned not to focus on secondary and negative issues. We all
are human and can make mistakes. We like to apologize for not responding to
some suggestions
and queries of those who write about us and our noble efforts. We simply do
not have time to respond to every one. Please understand that we have more
important issues to deal with. Last
but not least, we welcome any constructive suggestions and we assure every one
that we will take them into account. Meaningful
cooperation and help is welcome. So please tell us what you can do to help!
6
Finally,
whatever mistakes we do is neither intentional nor to undermine any
organization or individual. Please
let us also focus on real issues that matter to the people of Eritrea and the
Horn of Africa and the future of our grand children.
For constructive and civilized ideas, we can be reached via Fisseha@planet.nl