H. Res. 550 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
November 5, 2007. 
Whereas Ethiopia is a proud country with a long, rich his-
tory; 
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 rock- 
hewn churches, was constructed in the 13th-century dur-
ing the Zagwe Dynasty; 
Whereas in 1978, Lalibela was recognized on the World Her-
itage List as a property considered to have outstanding 
universal cultural value by the World Heritage Com-
mittee 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 de-
feated the invading Italian army in the Battle of Adowa 
in 1896;
•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 Ethi-
opia’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 occu-
pation by the Fascist government of Italy; 
Whereas Ethiopia played an important role in the struggle 
for freedom for many African countries during the colo-
nial period; 
Whereas in 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned as Em-
peror 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 Na-
tions and one of the original drafters of the Security 
Council Charter;
•HRES 550 EH 
Whereas Ethiopia played a pivotal role in creating the Orga-
nization 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 mil-
lennium as the second African millennium: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) congratulates the people of Ethiopia on the sec-
ond 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 millen-
nium celebration in Ethiopia and the United States; and
•HRES 550 EH 
(6) commends the peaceful and jubilant celebration 
of the second millennium of Ethiopia. 
Attest: 
Clerk.