Missing Ethiopia Already

The United Kingdom and Ethiopia enjoy a formal relationship spanning over a century, during which the two nations have developed close bonds of friendship.
The UK is at the forefront of global pro-Africa initiatives- an effort led by a spontaneous coalition of British ministers, not least of whom are former Prime Minister Tony Blair and, his successor at 10 Downing Street, former finance minister, Gordon Brown.
Development co-operation dominates bilateral relations and this aspect of Ethio-U.K. ties is highlighted in the following interview Capital’s Teguest Yilma and Tesfu Telahoun conducted with the outgoing emissary of the United Kingdom to Ethiopia,
H.E. Ambassador Bob Dewar. Excerpts:

Capital: Briefly describe to us the state of Ethio-UK relations?
Ambassador Bob Dewar: I think our relations with Ethiopia are very good and based on a long history where we know each other very well. There is mutual respect and to speak for the U.K, there is genuine desire to try and be helpful. We have been promoting a very positive agenda for Africa generally but also for Ethiopia in efforts to improve life and for a better future for the people of this great country. I think that there has been a very real commitment by a co-alition of British ministers over the last decade which is really beginning to have its impact here. I hope that the relationship will go forward and that, where we have some experience, we will offer skills in a constructive way, to make the development agenda of this country go even faster and further, more effectively. That can be offered and it will provide a little help.
Capital: What were the highs and lows of your ambassadorial tenure?
Bob Dewar: Well … there are lots of highs. The latest one was running in the Great Ethiopian Run (Nov. 2, 2007).
We had over 200 participants from the UK Team in the run – they were Embassy staff, DFID and from the British Council-British citizens and Ethiopian staff members. It was a great occasion where bonds of friendship, cooperation and goodwill reigned and also a terrific opportunity to connect with the younger generation. Another high for me was to be able to travel around the country and see all the amazing scenery, cultures and also the special environment that Ethiopia has. It has been a privilege also to learn a little bit about the rich culture and long history.
Among the lows would be the tensions in May 2005 through which Ethiopians had to come. We obviously, were here observing that difficult period.
As the millennium has dawned, I think there is great hope for the future I believe the messages of hope; peace, reconciliation development, mutual respect and working with the one another are the greatest things to come out from these Millennium Celebrations.
We who live in Europe saw our own calendar reach the 3rd Millennium seven years ago and to see it here again in a country with such great faith – that’s one of the things that always strikes me about Ethiopians; they have great faith; it was a privilege to have been on the spot. I also think its wonderful that the Ethiopian community in London were celebrating at Trafalgar Square at that very time just as much as everybody here was celebrating. So the millennium and what it means has been one of the highlights for me and my family during stay in your beautiful country.
Capital: What are the items in the portfolio of a Queen’s diplomatic emissary?
Bob Dewar: We have a broad and constructive bilateral relationship, our agenda for Africa is much like our agenda for Ethiopia which has been to try to push up the international profile of the needs in terms of debt relief, trade, increased resources and also quality of resources to help meet the Millennium Development goals.
On the private sector side we are observing more interest in those directions in the form of more tourists from the U.K. and expanding Ethiopian exports to the U.K. There is scope for more investment in this direction. I think one of the challenges that Ethiopia faces in Europe generally is its branding; its image. I know that Ethiopian ambassadors and the Foreign Minister are working very hard to change that. Certainly. I think that more and more people in the U.K. are starting to realize that this is a different Ethiopia, one that is moving forward dynamically with new exports and new things to offer in terms of tourism and so on. In regard to investment, I think there is more scope for U.K. involvement. I hope that next year we will be able to sign an investment promotion protection agreement between the U.K. and Ethiopia.
Capital: Is there any change in British external cooperation policy after the transition from Tony Blair to Gordon Brown?
Bob Dewar: I don’t think so. You see, the commitment to Africa that was shown by British Ministers was that it was really like a coalition of ministers all feeling the same way about the need get Africa higher up the international agenda and really get a step change…
Capital: This sentiment exists across party lines?
Bob Dewar: Yes, it is also shared by the opposition, but what I meant by a co-alition of British ministers, are not just the Prime Minister then but also the Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister), Gordon Brown who was and is very committed to the African agenda. He has shown that with his initiatives on health and education, and by his determination that there should be a call for action. What he means by that is ‘lets all of us try to speed up progress toward the MDGs – collectively.’ That means both donors in terms of our own procedures and recipients in making the assistance more effective. He is planning a big initiative in 2008 where we will all get together in New York and try to take this forward. The P.M. (Gordon Brown) is deeply committed so I don’t see any change because of the transition of leadership. In fact, what is readily apparent is a sense of continuity.
Capital: There seems to be a deadlock in Ethiopian politics at the present time. There is precious little dialog occurring. How do you view the situation?
Bob Dewar: I think there are general, universal principles and values that peaceful dialog, reconciliation and the and the inclusion of opinion formers in a society as it progresses, is the way forward. It is unfortunate that there seems to be at the movement a situation where some of the opposition are not able to be dialoging directly with the ruling party about some of the key issues of the future. That is something the two sides must sort out between then. I think dialog, is the most constructive methodology and obviously, within dialog, each side has to listen, understand and respect the views of the other and move forward.
I have been impressed by the evolving parliament here. It does have new rules and procedures put in place and I think that there are ways in which that parliament can really evolve and become an ever more effective institution in terms of accountability because of course, the main role of a parliament normally is to hold the executive branch to account. Like wise the other institutions of the land. I believe its very useful if politicians can actually play their part within institutions and if they want change, to work for change within the context of the institutions – in a positive sense. It is important also that those in power respect the space and the voice of the alternative opposition as a constructive contribution to the national project on the way forward.
Capital: What is the official position of the United Kingdom on the Ehio-Eritrea border issue impasse?
Bob Dewar: Well, in general terms the U.N. Security Council has made its position clear yet again recently, urging both countries to show restraint from using force, to implement the final and binding delimitation decision of the Boundary Commission Our position is also to urge Ethiopia and Eritrea to settle their differences in a peaceful manner and eventually, to work toward the normalization of relations.
Capital: How would you say Ethiopia has changed from your first impressions of it and during your tenure?
Bob Dewar: There are real and mostly positive changes. For example, more children – girls too, are going to school. There may still be an issue in the size of the classes but that is an evolution in the positive sense.
There is also a great improvement in access to health services. Efforts in rolling back malaria are very commendable. Things like this matter to the people on the ground. I have certainly noticed a lot happening as I traveled around the different parts of Ethiopia.
Take for instance infrastructure development. It is amazing to look around even here in Addis Ababa at how much work is being undertaken to improve and modernize infrastructure.
We as residents in Addis Ababa have witnessed the city developing rapidly but we also see many challenges such as urban poverty, high youth unemployment and others.
When I first arrived, I expected to find a country with a very rich culture and historical legacy and I did find that to be true. My very first weekend was spent in Lalibela where my family and I had an incredible and unforgettable experience. We will miss this country very much.