National Security Policy and Strategy

1 THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA. FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND National . Security . Policy AND Strategy . Ministry of Information Press & Audiovisual Department November 2002. Addis Ababa Table of Contents Page 1. Section 1: Basic Principles 1. The Foundation of Foreign Affairs and National Security Policy .. 5. Development and the building of a democratic system as a basis for Policy .. 5. National pride and prestige as a basis for .. 9. Globalization as a basis for Policy ..19. 2. Objectives of the Foreign Affairs and National Security Policy .

2 23. 3. The Foreign Affairs and National Security 25. Devoting the prime focus to activities at home .. 25. Strategy centered on the economy .. 28. Full utilization of benefits based on proper 30. Minimizing threats on the basis of proper analysis .. 32. Reducing vulnerability to 34. Building a reliable defence capability ..40. a) Capacity building on the basis of a thorough threat 42. b) Building capacity by focusing on manpower development .. 43. c) Cost-effective use of financial resources.

3 46. d) Ensuring symibiotic linkage between defence expenditure and the economy .. 47. e) Building capacity in the context of economic development and current threats .. 48. Building strong implementation 49. a) Forging National 50. b) Strengthening the professional diplomatic 52. c) Coordinating and involving those with a role in 53. Section 2: Ethiopia's Relations with Other Countries 1. Countries of the Horn of 56. General .. 56. a) Significance of neighboring countries to the development of 57.

4 B) Significance of neighboring countries to the democratization of Ethiopia .. 59. c) The impact of Ethiopia's development and democratization on neighboring countries .. 60. Ethiopia's Policy towards 63. a) Significance of the 64. b) The Ruling Group, an obstacle to friendly relations 65. c) Policy direction .. 69. Ethiopia's Policy towards 73. a) Historical background of relations .. 73. b) Significance of the 75. c) Policy 77. Ethiopia's Policy towards The Sudan .. 82. a) Historical background of Ethio-Sudan Relations.

5 82. b) Significance of the 86. c) Policy 87. Ethiopia's Policy towards Djibouti .. 91. a) Historical background of relations .. 91. b) Significance of the relations .. 92. c) Problems regarding the 93. d) Policy 96. Ethiopia's Policy towards 99. a) Historical background of the 99. b) Significance of the relations .. 100. c) Problems in the 102. d) Policy 103. Strengthening the IGAD .. 105. 2. Relations With Other African Countries .. 106. Historical background of the relations .. 106. Significance of the relations.

6 107. Policy 110. 3. Relations with Countries of the Middle 111. 111. Relations with 117. a) Historical background and problems regarding the relations .. 117. b) Significance of the c) Policy direction .. 125. Relations with Arabian Peninsula Countries .. 129. a) Historical background and problems in the relations .. 129. b) Significance of the relations .. 130. c) Policy 131. Relations with North African Countries .. 132. Relations with Israel .. 133. Relations with Turkey and Iran .. 136. 4. 137.

7 The European Union (EU).. 137. The Russian 143. 5. Relations with the United States ( ) .. 144. 6. Asia .. 148. General .. 148. Japan ..150. China .. 151. India .. 152. 7. International and non-governmental 154. International organizations .. 154. International non-governmental 155. Introduction There can be no doubt that the attainment of speedy economic development, democratization and peace is fundamental to the survival of our country which finds itself in a state of abject poverty and backwardness.

8 That is why the Government gives priority to matters that are key to our survival and well-being. Unless the overall Policy direction pursued by the Government takes this basic reality into account, our National existence and Security will face grave danger. In this respect it is clear to see that our foreign relations and National Security Policy and Strategy can only have relevance if it contributes to the fight against poverty and promotes speedy economic development, democracy and peace. If we do not realize our goals, one can predict that our country will be exposed to great instability and even collapse and our very Security , and indeed survival, will be at stake.

9 Former governments pursued external relations and National Security policies that disregarded internal problems that were fundamental to our National condition. Rather, the effort was to focus on the outside world and to look in from the outside, as it were. Such an approach could not adequately protect our National interest and Security . There is no point in trying to pursue a foreign relations and National Security Policy to be implemented externally without a major and effective in-country effort to realize our vision of development and democratization.

10 It should also be noted that the foreign policies of past governments were, in part, founded on a `siege mentality' which considered the country to be surrounded by enemies. Its effects on the psychology of the people and its adverse impact on our relations with the outside world cannot be underestimated. This is, however, not to say that the country does not have external enemies or that all past policies directed against those who were arrayed against the country were wrong. What is essential is the necessity to carry out appropriate studies and assessments to distinguish between those whose interests would be negatively affected by our development and democratization efforts, and those who mistakenly believe that their interests would be negatively affected in this way.