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Prime Minister Meles Zenawi urged opposition political parties to enter into the peaceful direction.

The Prime Minister also said the government will not allow any actions that endanger the lives, property and stability of the public, adding, the government will undoubtedly take legal measures against such acts.

In an interview with the Ethiopian Radio and Television on Saturday, Prime Minster Meles said the next step would not be diverting to the wrong direction, but entering to development by accepting the results of the election with bless.

Meles also said the election conducted last May was an occasion when a great achievement has been registered in the democratization process.

The election process is already concluded, results were declared and there are both who are satisfied and dissatisfied with the results of the election", Meles said, adding that the nature of democratic principle is providing equal opportunity, but not satisfying all.

"If opposition political parties choose the peaceful alternative by accepting the Constitution, they are welcome," he said, adding, the desire of the government is not to marginalize opposition political parties due to one or another reason.

Though the government has ample evidences that indicate opposition political parties, their leaders and members have been involved in criminal activities prior to staging the so-called mass demonstration, it did not take appropriate legal measures in a bid to peacefully resolve problems and enter to development activities, Meles said.

He said respecting the Constitution would not be compromised, and added that the government does not have both the right and desire to compromise the Constitution.

As the election process has already been concluded, Meles said the desire of the Ethiopian people is entering to development activities under the leadership of the winner party.

Concerning the recently endorsed legislation on Parliamentary procedure, Meles said, the legislation was designed after studying experiences of the UK, India, Germany, Canada and other countries that have immense experience in democratic practices.

The law was designed not to be imposed on opposition political parties, but to implement strong and effective democratic practices.

If the next Parliament finds the new law not useful, it could either change or amend it, Meles said. He, however, said, the way the outgoing parliament had endorsed it was democratic.

The Prime Minister also said the revenue sources of the Addis Ababa City Administration have not been, and will not be, changed, and there is nothing reduced or to be reduced, adding the decisions in relation to revenue sources in the City were taken for the sake of the people, and not for the administration.

He said measures related to the revision on taxes have been implemented not only in Addis Ababa, but all over the country.

The Prime Minister said the right to freedom of expression is a right respected in all democratic nations including Ethiopia.

Meles said people who say that they are not satisfied with the results of the election have the right to hold and express their ideas. But, he said, they have no rights to spark violence.

Meles said the goals of opposition parties are to dismantle the constitutional order, depose the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) by force as well as to change the institutions set up under the constitution by intimidation and force.

He added that conceiving, plotting, propagating and agitating to realize these goals is in itself a crime.

Prime Minister Meles said the demonstration opposition political parties are contemplating to hold is part of a serious crime.

He added that the government will not allow the perpetration of any action that would endanger the lives, property and peace of the public, and if such actions are perpetrated the government will not hesitate to take the necessary legal measures.

There should be no doubt that the government will take the necessary measures not only to prevent the danger, but also to make sure that it shall never happen again, Meles said.

The Prime Minister described the idea of opposition parties to administer the Addis Ababa City without joining the Parliament as "childish".

The law of the nation will not allow oppositions to use the Addis Ababa Administration for the purpose of instigating riot and violence, even for a minute. EPRDF also will not allow that to happen, he added.

Meles said the next task of EPRDF is to establish the two Councils as well as to form the new government.

Meles also pointed out that a new bill has been prepared so as to be able to make some amendments before the new Cabinet is formed.





Source: ENA