VZCZCXRO5801
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #0049/01 0121430
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121430Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7386
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000049 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: 
TAGS: 
SUBJECT: POLITICAL PARTIES AGREE ON ALLOCATION OF AIRTIME FOR 
ELECTIONS 
 
Reftel:  Addis Ababa 3010 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Sixty-five Ethiopian political parties have reached 
agreement on how to allocate airtime and print space of state media 
for electoral campaigning.  Three of these parties tabled proposals 
during three days of negotiation and one suggested by the nominally 
opposition Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) was finally adopted. 
Available airtime and print space will be allocated by a weighted 
formula that takes into account the number of seats a party has in 
the parliament and the number of candidates a party fields, with a 
final media tranche divided equally among Ethiopia's 96 registered 
political parties.  Although some opposition groups argue the 
agreement unfairly benefits the ruling party, most parties 
participating in the negotiations pronounce the agreement to be a 
good compromise.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Negotiations 
------------ 
 
¶2. (U) Two negotiators from each of the four major political parties 
- Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), All 
Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP), Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), 
Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP)- and four negotiators 
selected at large from 61 smaller political parties reached 
agreement on how to allocate airtime and print space on state-owned 
electronic and print media.  The negotiators struck a deal on 
January 1 after three days of intense negotiations.  The Forum for 
Justice and Democratic Dialogue (Forum) and 23 smaller political 
parties did not participate in the negotiations. 
 
Three Options Tabled for Negotiations 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The formula proposed by the government-run Ethiopian 
Broadcasting Authority and accepted by EPRDF and CUDP (together 
comprising 401 of the 547 seats in the present parliament) suggested 
that 60 percent of available media time and space be allocated 
according to the number of seats a party had in the parliament, 30 
percent for the number of candidates a party fielded for the 
upcoming election, and 10 percent divided equally for all 96 
political parties registered to compete in the election.  AEUP did 
not agree, arguing that EPRDF would have an unfair advantage as it 
has 367 seats in the present parliament and, as the incumbent ruling 
party, had the ability to field  candidates for each of the 547 
available seats.  AEUP instead suggested 30 percent for 
parliamentary seats, 10 percent for the candidates a party fielded 
and 60 percent for all political parties. 
 
EDP Seals the Deal 
----------------- 
¶4. (U) The proposal suggested by Lidetu Ayalew, Chairman of the EDP 
was accepted by all negotiators.  (NOTE. EDP is nominally an 
opposition party but in reality generally follows the EPRDF lead. 
END NOTE.) The accepted proposal will provide 55 percent of airtime 
based the number of seats a party has in the parliament, 20 percent 
for the number of candidates a party is able to field and 25 percent 
for all political parties. 
 
EPRDF to Have the Lion's Share 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) The number of seats each party has in the parliament is a 
controversial issue because of the split within parties and changing 
alliances following the 2005 elections.  According to the 
Secretariat of the Parliament, political parties and coalitions have 
the following seats:  EPRDF 367, Forum 60, EDP 43, CUDP 34, EPRDF 
affiliates 42, and independent 1. 
 
Non-EPRDF Negotiators Optimistic 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) According to Lidetu Ayalew of EDP, the fact that political 
parties with different views were able to reach an agreement in and 
of itself is a positive development.  He said he was happy with the 
agreement, and added that it is not the amount of airtime and print 
space that is important, but how well a party uses both.  Lidetu 
said he plans to use EDP's allocation to address millions of voters 
and explain the party's platform.  Yaikob Likke of AEUP said the 
agreement was not perfect and that it favored the EPRDF but that it 
was nevertheless a good compromise. 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00000049  002 OF 002 
 
 
The Forum did not participate in any of the negotiated agreements 
reached by political parties.  Merera Gudina, Chairman of FJDD, 
dismissed the agreement as a pre-arranged "EPRDF ploy."  While he 
didn't agree with the allocation, he said he would make good use of 
what he was allocated to educate the public about the Forum's 
platform. 
 
Parties Have Yet to Agree on 
Modalities of Public Debate 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) According to the electoral schedule published by the 
National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), political parties will 
campaign from February 9 to May 20. 
Party negotiators have not yet agreed on the modalities of the 
public debates.  EPRDF is not comfortable with unscripted, unedited 
live transmissions.  Non-EPRDF negotiators are insisting on live 
transmissions of every public debate and say the recently signed 
election code of conduct (Reftel) is available to address the 
concerns of EPRDF. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Despite the fact that opposition political 
parties in Ethiopia are fragmented and weak, negotiated agreements 
with the ruling party on an election code of conduct and the 
allocation of airtime are steps in the right direction.  In a 
country like Ethiopia where the illiteracy rate is high (the GOE 
admits to 60 percent, most experts estimate more than 70 percent), 
the best medium to reach the electorate is the electronic media 
(radio and television).  Opposition political parties will now be 
able to reach  millions of voters.  Whether the government allows 
full access to the airtime and how the parties make use of it remain 
to be seen.  END COMMENT. 
 
MUSHINGI