From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Jun 15 2009 - 05:09:03 EDT
Press Statement: IGAD: Wayward means to sully Eritrea
By Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jun 15, 2009, 10:20
In a move full of irony, and, by misappropriating the names of the African
Union and IGAD, countries hostile to Eritrea, on issues that have nothing to
do with Somalia, are trying to use the Somali fig-leaf to persuade the UN
Security Council to impose sanctions on Eritrea. They have strategized to
demand maximum sanctions in the hope that they can exact at least some
measures from the Security Council.
An African country demanding sanctions on another African nation by falsely
using the name of the African Union is indeed a dastardly and unprecedented
move. As it happens, the countries that are pushing for sanctions have been
forced to drop their claim to be pursuing it on behalf of the AU, as no
legitimate organ of the Union has mandated them to do so. In reality, they
could not have mustered the hubris to approach the UNSC, if they did not
believe that they could gain the indulgence of some permanent members of the
Security Council.
Eritrea's position on the maneuverings underway in New York is the
following:-
1. Eritrea confidently reaffirms that it is not sending arms and/or
ammunition to any party in Somalia. It categorically rejects the baseless
charges directed against it. In fact, the Special Representative of the
Secretary General on Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdella, has admitted that
despite "much talk" there was no proof of the charges against Eritrea.
2. There is irrefutable proof that Ethiopia, in open violation of the UN
arms embargo, is training and arming the Islamist armed group, the Ahli
Asunna and Jami'a, various clan militias and an assortment of warlords,
including Barrehilale. This is in addition to its continued military
intervention inside sovereign Somali territory, which continues to
complicate the search for a durable settlement.
3. Accusations of violating the UN arms embargo have also been leveled
against a number of other countries.
4. In this respect, if the UNSC is going to impose any sanctions, it must
do so, on the basis of unassailable proof, against those countries which
perpetrated illegal military invasion of Somalia in the past years and who
provided arms to Somalis in violation of the embargo. Eritrea has not done
so. Ethiopia is in flagrant violation on these counts and must be
sanctioned.
5. In regard to Eritrea's political position on Somalia, Eritrea has been
criticized for not falling in line with the "international consensus". But,
Eritrea has a right to hold an independent position, even a dissenting one.
Moreover, over the past two years and half, the Eritrean position on Somalia
has proven to be more realistic and correct, as compared to the conventional
wisdom. Eritrea was correct in its assessment that the Abdullahi Yusuf and
Nur Adde "governments", despite the "international legitimacy" conferred on
them, could not bring peace. It is Eritrea's considered assessment that the
same is true for the present, externally installed "government", which
remains holed up in a few districts of the capital, despite massive military
and financial support.
6. Eritrea strongly believes that if the objective is the establishment of
a broadly representative government paving the way for a durable settlement,
then we need to refrain from trying to impose our candidates, irrespective
of the qualities that we see in them. This has been tried at least 15 times
in the past 15 years and has failed every single time. What is required, and
what Eritrea advocates, is a Somali-owned inclusive process that would also
ensure the participation and address the issues of Somaliland and Puntland.
7. Eritrea has absolutely no interest in the instability of Somalia. We do
not, and have never considered, Somalia a threat. The Eritrean objective is
to see a peaceful, stable and united Somalia.
8. It is Ethiopia that has for over more than six decades sought to
destabilize Somalia, fought three wars against it, continued to intervene to
thwart the emergence of a united government with popular legitimacy. It is
farcical that the country that harbours ill-will towards Somalia and its
people, seeks to use Somalis to fight its war against Eritrea. It is
regrettable that Ethiopia, which should have been sanctioned, under Chapter
7 of the UN Charter, for continuing to occupy sovereign Eritrean territory,
in contemptuous rejection of a binding international arbitration, has the
temerity to pour scorn on the Security Council, by demanding sanctions on
Eritrea.
9. It would be a travesty of justice, if members of the Security Council,
condemn a country that has not violated the embargo and reward the one that
should be brought to the dock, for its violation of both the arms embargo
and of its obligations under international law. It would be a violation of
UN principles if the Security Council responds to the issue of the embargo
selectively.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara
15 June 2009
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