Addis Ababa — Top US human rights official on Tuesday expressed concerns that the current trends, such as Civil Society Organization (CSO) law, would limit the political freedom in Ethiopia.

In what has been said the NGO law was the dominant issue of discussion with Prime Minister, along with the overall political environment in the country, US's Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights David Kramer said he pointed out some particular areas of concern that his country has at the legislation (CSO law).

"I did convey to him concerns that we have and we have heard from others about some trends that would point to a closing of political space. When you look at the April election earlier this year, when you look at the media law that was passed. When you look at the draft CSO legislation, and we had a discussion about that," the official told journalists at a press conference here in Addis Ababa.

Although the bill has been revised twice since May 2008, the current version holds many of the most controversial provisions and expected to be submitted to the parliament soon.

Assistant Secretary David Kramer also expressed his concern about provisions in the draft legislation that could harm several aid projects funded by the U.S. government.

According to Human Rights Watch, the CSO law would bar both foreign and Ethiopian organizations that receive more than 10 percent of their funding from abroad from undertaking any activities in human rights, gender equality, children's rights, disabled persons' rights, conflict resolution, and strengthening judicial practices and law enforcement, among related activities.

The law would also exclude groups that are largely funded by Ethiopians living in the Diaspora from working on these issues.

During the meeting, according to the Assistant Secretary, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to development of a democratic system of government in Ethiopia, by stressing it would be Ethiopian in style and in nature.

David Kramer, however, stressed that his visit to the country was not intended to impose any style of government, but express concerns.

"I want to stress that I do not come here to try to impose a US model or any type of model here, but to express certain that view that there are common features to democracies that include certain freedoms that are fundamentals to individuals around the world, that includes freedom of association, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and all those issues are very important," he said.

Last week, Human Rights Watch urged Ethiopia's parliament to reject the draft law, stating it would criminalize human rights activity and seriously undermine civil society groups.

According to the group, some estimates, Ethiopia's bilateral donors provide more than US$1 billion in aid each year to what is one of the world's poorest countries and an important ally in regional counterterrorism efforts to US.

Declining to speculate the impact of Charities Proclamation could have on the level of U.S. aid to Ethiopia, Assistant Secretary of State Kramer said "we want to absolutely avoid any politicization of food assistance when people are in need as the may be the case here."