The cardinal principles of peaceful coexistence have been enshrined in the charter of the United Nations as a core value of the foreign relations among the members of the global entity.
Even during the Cold War era leaders of both blocks continued to refer to coexistence despite the clandestine diplomatic and intelligence wars. It is believed that a number of treaties signed between the former Soviet Union and the USA including SALT 1 and 2 and treaties on ICBM reduction underpinned the necessity of peaceful coexistence between the superpowers. Despite the apparent end of the cold war, the principle of peaceful coexistence still holds on as a major component of international relations.
During the imperial regime, although the nation lacked a consolidated foreign policy document for reference, the selected utterances of the late emperor repeatedly referred to the principles coexistence as a foreign policy objective of the country.
Although the Derge verifiably followed and adhered to gunboat diplomacy in its relations with the neighboring countries, its leaders tried to formulate the policy of proletarian internationalism oddly blended with the policy of peaceful coexistence in global international relations.
In November 2002, the EPRDF led government issued a document entitled Foreign Affairs and National Security Policy and Strategy which dealt with the foreign policy objectives of the country. The document prescribed major principles of Ethiopia’s foreign policy which focused on establishing the necessary correlation between domestic and foreign policy which basically hinged on upholding the national interest of the country in implementing economic diplomacy.
The current internal crisis in some parts of the country is pausing a major threat to the peaceful development of the country as the constitutional principle of self determination is being abused and misunderstood by a substantial section of the population triggering a sentiment of exclusiveness sponsored by those who wish to create total discord in this country.
In her recent keynote address on a mammoth gathering dedicated to the 13th Anniversary of Nation, Nationalities and Peoples Day President Sahelework Zewede underscored on the necessity of peace and coexistence between the peoples of Ethiopia as a major precondition for the well being and development of the country.
In the domestic affairs of this country, the principle of peaceful coexistence between religions and peoples of the country has been put in practice long before the basic institutions of government have been commissioned. In fact, even in cases of periodic conflicts over scares resources, the peoples of the country had long standing traditional mechanisms of resolving conflicts which in a way is still relevant to seeking solutions to current crisis in parts of the country.
Here it is very important to carefully consider the dialectical relations between peace and coexistence. Coexistence among the peoples in this country presupposes establishing joint principles and locally tailored regulations and mutual understandings on the critical need for the prevalence of peace. Coexistence creates a win-win situation from which everyone could benefit from prevailing peace and tranquility.
The principle of peaceful coexistence may be declared by the government but if the peoples of this country would not cherish it there would be a huge risk of derailing the current reform the results of which would certainly reverberate into the entire region of the Horn of Africa.
Despite the current chaotic situation in a number of areas in the country, a glimmer of hope is on the horizon relating to the comprehensive relations between the countries of the Horn. The political commitments of the leaders of Ethiopia, Somalia, Eretria raises the hope to insure peace, development and security to ensure mutual development in the areas of trade, infrastructure development, collective security and curbing illegal migration in the region. The current undesirable situation in Ethiopia would do a disservice to the calls for crisis proofing the Horn of Africa.
Coexistence between the peoples of Ethiopia have come a long distance but in the current situation promoting peaceful coexistence requires a change of attitude among the peoples of Ethiopia and their ability to shift the rhetoric from reality and what is real from apparent.
Peaceful coexistence is a general term but what the writer is referring to is political and religious. Political peaceful coexistence is accommodative and does not focus on short lived interests but strategic gains from which every citizen of this country can benefit.
The over arching problems that this country and its government should solve surpasses the extent of the differences and minor contradictions that are surfacing up among the peoples of Ethiopia.
Peaceful coexistence among the peoples of Ethiopia could be catalyzed by the efforts of all stakeholders. If the political parties settle their accounts and come together to act in unison to save the country from any possible political crisis, they can help to avert the current situation in the country and get ready for the next election. It is however necessary to ensure sustained peace that should be ensure by all elements of the political system and not only from the government.
The public wants to hear about the strategies of peace and development that the political parties are to offer. This is very urgent because these parties have so far done nothing meaningful except for issuing press briefings on specific issues. If they do not mobilize and act today when are they going to come up with something reasonable and applicable?
Peaceful coexistence and national peace does not come only through public gatherings and peace conferences dedicated to peace. By the way most of these peace conferences are attended by senior citizens, elders, Aba Gedas and older women and mothers who are supposed to take care of their children. They attend these conferences with huge expectation from the results but what is the role of the youth in the current situation. The youth are the victims and at the same time the partakers of the current crisis. It is very important to effectively mobilize the youth in different parts of the country if a reliable peace and coexistence is to prevail.
Yes, the peoples of Ethiopia have coexisted for ages but there are new factors and challenges that are pausing a threat to this age old social capital. There is a major focus on demands for upgrading zones into regional states and woredas are demanding to be upgraded to a zone level but the prevalence of peace and peaceful coexistence is a major precondition for reviewing such demands.
The other critical situation is the fact that the government is riddled with numerous challenges that await responses in the short running. Politically the government seems to finding it difficult to engage in effective development programs as a lot of time is being dedicated to crisis management.
The public in some parts of the country are being fed up of the prevailing insecurity in the border areas between regions like Oromia and Benishanuel Gumuz the peoples of whom have lived together for several hundreds of years? The public should be able to know the motives behind all these protracted chaotic situations.
Again, the Ethiopian media have in fact not done enough in soliciting applicable solutions to the current crisis in the areas of their specific media sectors. It is one thing to report on what is going on in the country. If all stakeholders are not doing their part in systematically curbing the current crisis in the country, it might be too late to worry.
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
