Vision Ethiopia, an independent team of Ethiopian scholars and professionals based in the United States, in cooperation with the Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT), is pleased to announce that it will be holding a one day public conference on Sunday October 18, 2015 in Washington DC at Washington Marriott Georgetown.
The theme of the conference is “the present and future Ethio-Eritrea relations” with more focus on current developments.
The Horn of Africa is one of the troubled spots of the world. The Ethio-Eritrean relation is one of the factors that make the problems of the region complex. Scholars, community and religious leaders, and politicians have different and sometimes opposing perspectives about causes and consequences of the series of conflicts of the past on the one hand and about future relations on the other. How one attempts to bridge this gap is of critical importance for the future relations of the two countries irrespective of who is in power in Addis Ababa and/or in Asmara. Discussions between Ethiopians and Eritrean scholars, professionals, and community leaders are, therefore, important.
The following and other related questions may indicate the focus of the conference.
• What should be done to build good relation between Eritrea and Ethiopia?
• What should NOT be done to build good relation between Eritrea and Ethiopia?
• What should be the roles of community organizations in leading the people-to-people relationship?
• What are some of the socio-economic–cultural considerations that leaders may have to take in to account to successfully get to the next height?
• What is/are the superpowers’ interest in the region? etc.
This conference, therefore, is the continuation of the various earlier initiatives to facilitate a proper forum for scholars, community and religious leaders, and politicians to produce and provide better understanding of the issues that unite and divide the two countries. It is also hoped that the conference will help to develop workable ideas to build enduring relationship between the nationals of the two countries to cooperate in their struggle to democratize the region.
Therefore, we encourage and welcome considered and diverse ideas from Ethiopian and Eritrean scholars, professionals, and community leaders. We are also pleased to announce that ESAT management has promised to disseminate all presentations unedited and uncensored to the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Selection of papers will be made on the merit and quality of the thought.
Please, send the abstract of your paper and suggestions to [email protected] by September 20, 2015. Abstracts can be sent in Amharic or English. Accepted papers decision on submission will be on or before September 30, 2015.
