By ARGAW ASHINE | The Daily Nation NATION
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Western diplomats based in one of the world’s largest diplomatic hubs, Addis Ababa boycotted a dinner party organized by the Ethiopian government to honor Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.
President al-Bashir had received a warm welcome from his Ethiopian hosts on his arrival in Addis Ababa on Tuesday morning for his two-day official visit.
Al-Bashir was welcomed by Ethiopian Prime Minister dictator Meles Zenawi and many other African diplomats at Bole international airport but no Western diplomat or representative showed up.
China, Venezuela Cuba and North Korean ambassadors joined their African counterparts at the airport to welcome President al-Bashir.
Hundreds of Sudanese living in Ethiopia warmly welcomed the president both at the airport and at a separate party.
The Ethiopian regime hosted a lavish state dinner in honor of President al-Bashir on Tuesday evening.
Though invited, US and many European diplomats boycotted the state dinner in protest against ad-Bashir whose arrest is sought by the International Criminal court over alleged abuse in Sudan’s Western Darfur region.
One Western diplomat told the Nation in Addis Ababa: “It’s not fair to sit for a dinner with a criminal”.
During a joint press conference with Mr Meles, President Bashir dismissed the notion that the arrest warrant could restrict him from traveling.
“We came to this meeting to show those who said we could not travel outside Sudan that we can travel outside Sudan,” President al-Bashir told journalists.
The Sudanese leader has visited Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia since the ICC issued an arrest warrant on March 4.
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Dear Ethiopian review
I would like to say something which seems to me essential. I observed in almost all your articles, you call Meles Zenawi as "Dictator" instead of "Prime Minister".
This is not of a respected journal to denote the prime minister, what so dictator and criminal he is, as such. He is the prime minister of our country whether we like it or not and we should accept this. This will not hinder us to point out his murderous acts and criminal deeds by calling him the ethiopian prime minister.
Tazabi ethiopian
N.B Please publish my remark.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 AM
No surprises here!
Like birds do flock together.
It is a pity that some of the worst African murderous goons-cum-leaders still manage to rule nations with impunity.
Hopefully, the ICC will work its ponderous ways towards Ethiopia some time in the future!!!
From Arada, Addis Ababa.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:18 AM