H. Res. 550 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

November 5, 2007. 

Whereas Ethiopia is a proud country with a long, rich history; 

Whereas the earliest known hominid, internationally known 

as Lucy and classified as the Australopithecus Afarensis, 

was found in Ethiopia; 

Whereas in the 9th century, Ethiopians discovered coffee 

beans in what is now known as the Kaffa region; 

Whereas Lalibela, a group of 11 medieval monolithic rockhewn churches, was constructed in the 13th-century during the Zagwe Dynasty; 

Whereas in 1978, Lalibela was recognized on the World Heritage List as a property considered to have outstanding 

universal cultural value by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and 

Cultural Organization (UNESCO); 

Whereas in the mid-19th century, Emperor Tewodros II 

began the modernization of Ethiopia and led a successful 

campaign to unify Ethiopia; 

Whereas the proud and courageous people of Ethiopia defeated the invading Italian army in the Battle of Adowa 

in 1896; 
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•HRES 550 EH 

Whereas United States-Ethiopian relations were established 

on December 27, 1903, by Emperor Menelik II and 

President Theodore Roosevelt; 

Whereas since then, the Ethiopian-American community has 

grown to become the second largest African immigrant 

group in the United States; 

Whereas in 1908, European colonial powers recognized Ethiopia’s borders and sovereignty; 

Whereas in 1923, Ethiopia officially banned the slave trade; 

Whereas in 1923, Ethiopia joined the League of Nations; 

Whereas Ethiopia is the only country in Africa that was 

never colonized, with the exception of the 6 years of occupation by the Fascist government of Italy; 

Whereas Ethiopia played an important role in the struggle 

for freedom for many African countries during the colonial period; 

Whereas in 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned as Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia; 

Whereas Emperor Haile Selassie modernized Ethiopia, kept 

the country united, and largely peaceful; 

Whereas in 1974, Emperor Haile Selassie was ousted from 

power through a military coup by the Derg junta and Lt. 

Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam was installed as Head of 

State; 

Whereas in May 1991, the brutal Mengistu dictatorship came 

to an end after a 17-year reign of terror; 

Whereas Ethiopia was a founding member of the United Nations and one of the original drafters of the Security 

Council Charter; 
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•HRES 550 EH 

Whereas Ethiopia played a pivotal role in creating the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU), which was founded on 

May 25, 1963; 

Whereas Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, became the headquarters of 

the OAU and remains the headquarters of its successor, 

the African Union; and 

Whereas the 8th African Union Summit, held from January 

29-30, 2007, officially declared the second Ethiopian millennium as the second African millennium: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) congratulates the people of Ethiopia on the second millennium of Ethiopia; 

(2) recognizes the long, rich history of Ethiopia; 

(3) commends Ethiopia’s contribution to peace and 

stability on the African continent through the role it 

played in the creation of the Organization of African 

Unity (OAU); 

(4) recognizes the longstanding relationship between 

Ethiopia and the United States; 

(5) commends the organizers of the second millennium celebration in Ethiopia and the United States; and 
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•HRES 550 EH 

(6) commends the peaceful and jubilant celebration 

of the second millennium of Ethiopia. 

Attest: 

Clerk.