The ruling party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has agreed on four negotiation agendas proposed by the 16 remaining opposition parties today.
The agendas agreed for discussion were the various laws including the anti-terrorism law, the media and charities and civil societies, on building national consensus, democratic and human rights protection as well as free movement of people.
Among the agendas proposed by the opposition parties but ruled out by EPRDF from the upcoming negotiation were the state of emergency, political and prisoners of conscience, the country’s border demarcation, and amendment of the constitution.
The ruling party explained that it is inappropriate and futile to discuss those agendas at this forum as there are mechanisms set to amend the constitution, international borders are resolved by respective countries and there are no political and prisoners of conscience in the country.
EPRDF asked the opposition to digest their ideas in the agendas pertinent to economy and multiparty system for further discussion to establish them as agendas.
The parties have agreed to meet on Saturday June 24, 2017.
It is to be called that the ruling party and 16 political parties had agreed to negotiate on the electoral law in their last meeting. (ENA)