Ambassdor Dr. Tekeda earned a B.A. and M.A. from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School. Dr. Tekeda Alemu had served as a diplomat for four decades, starting from 1983. In 2017, Dr. Tekeda Alemu served as the president of the United Nations Security Council.
Up to last year, he was Ethiopian parliamentary representative in New York. It has been a year since he came back.
He was the state minister of foreign affairs. More or less close to 20 years, he was serving the country in that capacity.
At this moment, he serves his country as a member, Board of Trustees in Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation (CRDC).
The Ethiopian Herald had approached the respected ambassador to discuss on diplomacy activities of domestic, regional and international attributions. Excerpts:
Herald: What should the country do to acquire topnotch global diplomacy?
Dr. Tekeda: Frankly speaking, what we need to do is before achieving that level of excellence, we have to ensure that within our own vision and within Africa the interest of the country is promoted. And we make the necessary contributions for the peace and stability of not only our country but our region. We have major task in this regard. I am not sure that at the present time we have reached the point we can claim we have developed the necessary diplomatic capacity to ensure the real potential of Ethiopia is sufficiently realized.
This is something which we have to pursue in a very serious manner to make sure that our country has the necessary capacity to be able to exercise the kind of leverage that Ethiopia can bring development in respect to security, peace and also economic integration in our sub-region.
Before talking about acquiring topnotch global diplomatic capacity, I feel we need to sort of our lower ambition. We have to focus on what it is that we need. We have to check whether we have the capacity in the diplomatic area. We have to ensure our peace and stability are taken care of. Beyond that we have to contribute our due share towards peace and stability as well as integration over the region.
Herald: How do you assess the geopolitics of the horn of Africa?
Dr. Tekeda: The horn of Africa is going through difficult and complex period at the present time. The situation in our region has been transformed totally in the sense the present time is not going to be possible to make it between the horn of Africa and the countries in the eastern shore of the red sea.
The influence of countries in the gulf has rushed up enormously. As a result the situation has become very complex. And it is not easy at the present time to ensure that the interests of the countries are addressed without a lot of effort being deployed.
The relationship between Africa and the countries on the other side of the red sea can be looked at in two ways. The first is that the advantage is not subject to doubt. The countries mentioned have a lot of resources.
Therefore, countries such as Ethiopia would be in a position to take advantage on that relationship. This is something that has to be taken into account. No doubt at all in this regard. On the other hand, without any doubt, the countries in the horn of Africa are very rich.
Therefore, the relationship can be looked at as being asymmetrical. So, it is absolutely true in order to be able to ensure our interests are taken care of to do what is necessary to make sure that the relationship is based on equality and the promotion of mutual benefit.
That is the nature of the politics of the horn at the present time. There were times, for example take Somalia was in the position to play a very critical leadership role. Currently, whether that is the case is very debatable.
The influence of the gulf countries in Somalia has created a lot of complication in there. That was not the case a few years ago. Now as the result of the change that has taken place the role of the countries in the horn has declined. It has become possible for horn countries to play a very decisive role. There is no problem if the gulf countries play a very critical role. The problem is the differences, misunderstanding among countries on the other side of the red sea are being reflected in the horn of Africa, especially, in Somalia.
IGAD, for example, would have to look very serious ways and contribute to the alleviation of the problem. That is now the situation in the horn of Africa. Ethiopia has, of course, has possibility to contribute to the improvement of the situation.
In that regard Horn countries want IGAD to play active role. And hopefully, we might be able to see in the near future a genuine and really vital role of IGAD.
Herald: What is your take on the rule of the games in world diplomacy?
Dr. Tekeda: Here as well the global situation has become very complex and difficult. The relationship among the major powers is becoming very tense. This is being reflected in a variety of ways. The relationships with the United States in one hand and the China, Russia on the other are something which create confidence in people.
What is the rule of the game? At the present it is very difficult to say we do not see the kind of cooperation that is apparent at the global level. For example, regarding climate change issues, we see there is serious attention to this very critical challenge that the human race is facing. The cooperation among the major powers in connection is avoiding a nuclear weapon disaster and again something does not give a lot of confidence.
The diplomacy is not being prioritized at the present time. This is what we see. One hopes that the situation would change in the interest of international peace and security, interest on saving humanity from disasters.
Herald: How do you see the influences of multilateral cooperation and interregional governmental institutions as well civil-societies in the country’s diplomatic activities?
Dr. Tekeda: As far as multilateral cooperation concerned what we see is a very difficult situation in United Nations, which is the most universal multilateral cooperation that we have in the world today.
But when we see the role of the United Nations, even though, in many areas including peace and security, of course, is a very important one in Africa and in developing countries.
On the other hand, in terms of having influence on the nature of the difficult relationship among the major powers, UN’s role is almost nominal. Currently, of course, United Nation’s muscle is beefing up in terms of wielding influence. Other multilateral cooperation is also given great importance.
This is the situation why we are not seeing enough investment to ensure multilateral relationships are developed. In our continent as well there are countries that do not give a lot of importance to such types of relations. Take for example the African union to IGAD even in our sub-region there are shortcomings in this regard.
The role of civil societies has picked steam pertaining to this connection. Within the context of the marginalization of multilateral organizations issues, the role of civil societies, of course, has become very crucial. Therefore, with respect to sub-regional organizations such as IGAD, ECOWAS from West Africa, SADC from South Africa, their role has become very important.
Herald: What do you suggest on the roles of United Nations in maintaining Africa’s interests and securing its sovereignty and territorial integrity?
Dr. Tekeda: You see the countries within the United Nations that have wedges in that plays have a very decisive role especially in ensuring peace and security. It is the five countries and the Security Council of 15 members of the council and within that council it is the five members meaning United States, France, UK, China and Russia that have enormous role in this regard.
As said earlier, the Security Council has been very effective because the distinction among the major powers. One can see that the security council is more or less organized but it is not really discharging responsibilities that been given to it by the charter.
No doubt, what could make the Security Council to be more effective is to reform the expansion of membership with the view to including the countries. But it is very difficult to imagine this happening soon. Therefore, the role of Security Council in protecting African interest is very limited.
And it is African countries themselves that can ensure protection for their interest. In this regard, strengthening African union begs for greater attention. It is member countries obligation to ensure that their organization is well-taken care of. This could be in terms of ensuring all members are really supporting the organization. It is that way we can ensure our interest.
This does not mean the United Nations is absolutely useless. The United Nations continues to play a very important role in connection to peace and stability, in connection to conflict resolution and peace keeping. A lot of resources are used in Africa for peace keeping purposes and the variety of UN entity also contribute in economic and social area in Africa.
United Nations has been very useful and continued to be useful.
But African countries have to maintain their interest by themselves. There is a lot to be desired.
As I said earlier, as much as possible, there is a need to push forward to ensure that Africa union is robust and our regional organizations, such as IGAD, function effectively. Of course, each African country will have to ensure the respective interest of protecting and advancing. In this regard, Ethiopia as well should involve extensively.
Herald: What can you say about Africa free trade agreements to improve the well-being of African people?
Dr. Tekeda: There have been some attempts in that regard. As you know most of the economic activities were with non- African countries. But, currently, in this area, there is a lot of space for improvement.
Herald: Do you think modern slavery has impact on the lives of African people
Dr. Tekeda: This is the great challenge at the present time for African countries. It has stripped of the dignity and of our people and cast a shadow on their lives. All these challenge can be curbed if we manage to address our economic performance, overcome poverty ensuring that our youths are taken care of. That is related to employment.
And unless, of course, as much as possible, addressing this challenge for the future of Africa and its countries has become a very existential problem. The fact that our youth have immigrated into Europe and Middle East could be traced back to the problem of economy. The fact is that we are not able to provide jobs for our youth.
Therefore, like ticking-time bomb this is the main problem. The young people cross Sahara desert are ending up in places, which could be taken as hells on earth. Actually, economic problem has brought incapacity not to provide meaningful jobs to our youth.
Herald: Do you think neo-colonization way of controlling things still exist in the world?
Dr. Tekeda: I do not know whether it could be characterized as neo-colonization or not. The relationship between developed and developing countries continues to be unequal. The gap continues to widen.
As a result, the capacity of countries of the developing world should make sure that their development is managed by themselves. It has to be geared towards promoting their interests. It becomes very difficult to manage well. It is a difficult situation we are facing.
In 2015, the United Nations passed a resolution supporting the 2030 development agenda. The major objective was to ensure that extreme poverty was removed by 2030. And that renewed partnership ought to be created among the countries of the world. That will not be realized. This is the major challenge the country is facing at the present time.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 11 August 2019
BY MEHARI BEYENE
