Ethiopian - Statesman | May 8, 1955 - August 20, 2012
It is illegal to be a member of an organization that is challenging the constitution by armed force.
Meles Zenawi
OrganizationConstitutionForceArmed
After Nigeria, we are the second biggest black African nation. We are the headquarters of the African Union. We are the only African country that has never been colonized. This is perhaps the last surviving African civilization.
BlackCountryCivilizationNever
We have our own script. We have our own calendar. We represent the greatness of Africa's past. We also represent the worst of Africa's present, in terms of poverty. It is the best and the worst of African reality.
BestPastGreatnessPresentReality
Democracy cannot be a plaything for the capital cities. It has to infiltrate every nook and cranny in the country, including the village.
DemocracyCountryVillageCannot
While all democratic systems are works in progress, ours started rather late and therefore has a longer distance to cover. But democratic transformation for us is not mimicking some facets of Western governance. The focus has been on building institutions of democratic governance.
FocusProgressBuildingLateStarted
When you have an emergency, there is the urge to do whatever it takes to see people get assistance.
PeopleYouEmergencySeeWhatever
Famine has wreaked havoc in Ethiopia for so long , it would be stupid not to be sensitive to the risk of such things occurring. But there has not been a famine on our watch - emergencies, but no famines.
StupidLongRiskThingsWatchBeen
Some people think African states cannot be trusted with the cookie jar. But there are absolutely good NGOs who have this feeling of human solidarity and who also recognize that their work can only be supplementary to the government.
WorkGoodGovernmentPeopleThink
An oversupply of national sentiment is not the problem in Somalia. The problem is a lack of it. The problem is an oversupply of sub-sub-clannish attitude.
AttitudeProblemNationalSomalia
I am not worried that the Egyptians will suddenly invade Ethiopia. Nobody who has tried that has lived to tell the story.
I AmStoryNobodyWillTellLived
Eritrea is hellbent on destabilising Ethiopia. It does not care who it sleeps with.
CareEthiopiaWhoDoesSleeps
I would love to be the African leader that steps down, that overthrows this idea of a Big Man ruler. I don't want to stay in office forever.
LoveLeaderManDownWantOffice
Copyright © 2024 QuotesDict Meles Zenawi quotes