There was a two-side personality displayed by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn late last week, while addressing members of the media during his occasional press briefings. Calm, composed and collected in responding to issues of macro economic affairs, where he dedicated much of the two and half hours press conference, to a man who demonstrated his unyielding attitude to concerns on civil liberties many say is under assault in the name of fighting terrorism. Largely prompted by the recent extradition and arrest of a political opposition leader in exile, Hailemariam played tough on those recently rounded up and others he warned are still part of a “web of terrorism” whose origin he says is in Asmara.
In between was of course a display of his subtle displeasure in responding to criticism which alleges his administration has been limited to “reports in paper” in its pledge to improve issues of governance. He was not willing to see his administration’s record be judged in the abstract but wanted those pointing their fingers to come forth with pointed issues on what he believes is a “process” which will take years to see results. However, he was upbeat on the positive progress he argued public complaints on lack of governance is being addressed. In a press briefing where issues of economic performance, relations with Egypt, arrests of bloggers, journalists and opposition politicians, as well as good governance dominated, the Prime Minister declared, “there will be no government in paralysis in Ethiopia.” Hailemariam was also candid in admitting the decline in export revenues for the fiscal year 2013/14. Blaming price fluctuations in the international market for the nation’s export items such as coffee and gold, Hailemariam attributes supply constraints in inputs for the fledging industrial sector. He, however, sees a year ahead where both productivity in agriculture and increase in industrial inputs change the picture in the nation’s competitiveness. PLEASE SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 2.
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