Political Parties Conclude the Discussion on two Legal Documents

The EPRDF, EDUP-Medhin, CUD led by Ato Ayele Chamiso, the Parliamentary team and affiliated parties to EPRDF announced they conducted constructive and successful discussions on two legal documents over the last three months.

These Political parties have displayed in their joint press release of 3 December 2007 to domestic journalists that their concluding discussion on the bills of Mass media and the Right of Information and Registration of political parties was effective bearing common understandings.

Chief whip of the government honorable Ato Shiferaw Jarso said that the fruitful deliberation was held among political parties, adding that the clarifications and explanations with respect to the bill of Mass media and the Right to Information would help to refer the documents to stakeholders to gather additional inputs.

The document on media and information right, after in-depth discussion by parties, is to be submitted to pertinent bodies and the document on registration of political parties has been referred to the legislative body, Shiferaw said.

The chairperson of EDUP Medhin hon. Ato Lidetu Ayalew on his part said due to the remarkable discussion the parties have reached agreement on the basic tenets to enrich the legal documents on Mass media and the Right of information as well as the registration of political parties.

Besides, he said that the differences created among political parties during the discussion on art.42/2/ of the provision, which refer to Registration of Political Parties, would be solved when the bill is directed to the pertinent bodies.

The chairperson of CUD Ato Ayele Chamiso has also expressed that inputs, which were forwarded by oppositions, have contributed to the refinement of the bills.

It was said that this kind of fruitful discussion will continue among political parties for the sake of building democracy and nurturing the multi-party system.