As part of this, Amen Ethiopia has held a deliberation entitled, “towards a new millennium of unity and solidarity, in which Ethiopia plays her rightful role in the African Renaissance,” at the African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 18, 2007.

“Giving awareness to the nation peace to all stakeholders with a final goal of developing peace, integrity and love and tolerance is the aim of Amen,” Deacon Yohannes Assemu, Coordinator of Amen in Addis Ababa told Capital.

The first event was a three-day symposium from 9-11 February 2007 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, under the specific title: “Taking Stock of the Ethiopian Situation and evaluating what can be done”. The keynote speaker was Prof. Hizkias Assefa, an Africa-based international specialist on conflict resolution with 25 years experience, who addressed the question: ‘What does Reconciliation require... in the Ethiopian situation?”

The second symposium took place in London on 28-29 April and in Washington DC on 26- 27 May and provided an overview of the experts’ analysis of the first conference. The theme of the 2nd symposium was: “Towards a Culture of Peace and Solidarity in Ethiopia.”

The venue of the 3rd symposium on July 7, 2007 was Delft, The Netherlands and the theme presented was: “The Quest for Peace and Reconciliation at the Turn of the Ethiopian Millennium, 28 July 2007”.

The Major Millennium Conference was aimed at promoting unity and cooperation among different (religious and ethnic) communities, facilitating that their positive energy contribute to national consolidation and enable Ethiopia to play its rightful role in the African renaissance. The impact of these exchanges is part of a wider issue of power and human governance.

The transition from the twentieth century world of interdenominational, inter-religious and inter-ethnic conflict, to a twenty first century world of fraternity and brotherly cooperation of different communities of faith and political and ethnic groups was foremost on the agenda.

“An honest multi-voiced approach to the past is essential. A distinguished commentator on Ethiopian affairs wrote that understanding the past is precisely putting oneself in the position of reclaiming the conscious and rational control of our social and individual lives.

Many of the events and developments of present-day Ethiopia appear incomprehensible because they are responses to deep unconscious traumas, not to real interests. Unless these disturbances are brought to light, our troubles will never end. International organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO’s have emphasized the importance of an integrated approach comprising dialogue between cultures and reconciliation based on the values of heritage in all its forms, and sustainable development,” the Initiative said.