Subject: Say No to HR 2003

Dear Senator,

I am writing to urge the Senate to take no further action on H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007. Should this legislation be passed into law it would inflict great, possibly irreparable, harm on Ethiopia’s standing in the volatile Horn of Africa and to U.S.-Ethiopian relations..

The Horn of Africa is at a critical juncture with radical Islamists attempting to take control of Somalia with the help of Eritrea, a country that the U.S. State Department may soon declare a state sponsor of terrorism. The strong presence of Ethiopia is the region’s best hope for averting a devastating war. The legislation that passed the House on October 2 and has been referred to your committee would cut off critical security assistance, thus threatening an already tenuous situation in the region.

The Ethiopian government has made great advancements in strengthening its democracy and promoting a vibrant free market system. The complex certification mandated by the legislation totally overlooks the great strides Ethiopia has made toward creating a pluralistic democracy in a diverse, multiethnic environment.

If the U.S. is serious about maintaining peace in the Horn of Africa it must uplift Ethiopia, its strongest ally, not condemn it. I ask you not to let H.R. 2003 move any further.

Sincerely,