BY TESFANEWS*
The German Parliament (Bundestag) voted on Thursday, January 17, 2019 in favor of support for the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The vote was a decision recommendation based on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Coalition Party: Promoting political opening
The coalition factions in their motion call on the federal government to help Ethiopia and Eritrea “to take further steps towards the full normalization of their bilateral relations as soon as possible”.
It also called on both governments to use the peace process to “drive political opening and economic transformation and anchor it institutionally so as to offer young people in the region perspectives on political and social participation”.
Other demands, “in the context of the available budget”, are for greater financial support for the development of the education system in Ethiopia, as well as a possible resumption of development cooperation with Eritrea, “as soon as the domestic policy and internal social conditions in Eritrea are met”.
FDP Party: Review UN sanctions against Eritrea
Under the framework of development cooperation, the Liberal Federal Government should promote cross-border projects and measures to build economic, social and cultural exchanges as well as scrutinize the sanctions of the United Nations Security Council against Eritrea and, if necessary, call for an easing or lifting.
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Other demands in the FDP proposal include greater coherence in EU stabilization and development programs in the Horn of Africa and in eastern and southern Africa, respectively.
Green Party: Implement the Algiers Agreement
The Greens call on the Federal Government to fully and sustainably support the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea together with the EU and the EU Special Representative and in close cooperation with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development [IGAD] for the Horn of Africa, comprehensively and sustainably to support measures in particular to end the border dispute and to implement the 2000 Algiers Agreement.
Reform of the “national service”
At the same time, the members of the Parliament by the Federal Government called for more pressure on Eritrea. At the request of the Government factions, the Bundestag calls on the Eritrean Government to limit the “national service” and introduce equitable remuneration for all recruits.
If domestic reforms would be implemented, could be considered in turn over the resumption of German development cooperation.
On a visit to Eritrea in August German Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) had made domestic reforms a condition before money from Germany could flow again.
If domestic policy reforms were implemented, it would also be possible to reflect on the resumption of German development cooperation. During a visit to Eritrea in August, German Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) made domestic reforms a prerequisite before funds could flow from Germany.
* Software translation. DW and German Bundestag contributed to the story
