COUNTER ATTACK Ethiopia behind our Troubles, says Eritrea [image: Print]<http://www.diplomateastafrica.com/index.php?view=article&catid=49%3Aregion&id=664%3Acounter-attack-ethiopia-behind-our-troubles-says-eritrea&tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=84#>
*In the face of growing accusations over Asmara's alleged role in the Somali
violence and links to terrorists in the Horn of Africa region, the Eritrean
ambassador to Kenya HE BEYENE RUSSOM sets the record straight. He
spoke to DEA’s
RONALD BERA. Excerpts:*
*DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: Is it true that the Eritrean Embassy in Nairobi is
used as a conduit to fund terrorism in Somalia? *
*HE BEYENE RUSSOM:* No, our Embassy is very clean and it has not been
involved in any such activities. The accusations are baseless. I challenge
anybody to come with any proof that this Embassy is involved in activities
that go against the Laws of Kenya. We have always stood firmly against
terrorism in principle and deeds. Let alone as a government, even during our
long years of liberation struggle there is no element or trace of terrorist
activity in our history. It is against our tradition and our principle.
*Q: But why is Eritrea facing the accusations? *
*A:* All this is the work of Ethiopia. They make us look as the aggressors
while we, in fact, are the victims. They refused to honour the verdicts made
by the Eritrean-Ethiopia Border Commission in 2002. They are still inside
our territory (in Eritrea) and in Badme with their troops and tanks in
violation of the UN, AU, the USA and the European Union-sponsored Algiers
Agreement and the final and binding verdict of the EEBC
*Q: Did the UN Monitoring Group that compiled the report contact you before
making it public? *
*A:* They did not contact me. Where they conducted their investigation is a
mystery to me. They might have been in Eritrea and worked discreetly. We
should have been given a chance to defend ourselves. To ask them where the
proof is, where did you see this? Why are you doing that? In fact, they
leaked it to the media before it reached the Security Council because
Ethiopia has been part and parcel of the so-called 400 page document of the
UN monitoring group.
*Q: How comes Eritrea is not defending itself against the accusations? *
*A: *We are defending ourselves, but the accusations keep piling up. While
we are too busy trying to defend this accusation, another wild one is
created. But sometimes we wonder why such wild, senseless, illogical and
bogus accusations and delusions manufactured in Addis Ababa reach the heads
of journalists. Why for example, should Eritrea try to destabilise South
Sudan and why should we train people to bomb Kampala? What would be the
interest of Eritrea? Any credible journalist should ask and try to find out
why, before publishing a marketable and sensational story like ‘Eritrea
accused of training terrorists to bomb Kampala, the AU seat in Addis’…etc
and endless accusations linked with Al Shabaab and Somalia.
Why doesnt the media ask where the proof is? And why would Eritrea waste so much money and effort to destabilise South Sudan for which it has worked tirelessly and for years to reach this amicable solution of the long conflict between the southern and northern peoples of Sudan? And why Kampala, so far away from the Eritrean borders? We are even very worried that these accusations will spill further in the region to Chad, Congo or Rwanda. If something happens in Rwanda now, they might accuse Eritrea again.
No country can prepare itself against such outrageous lies unless you have such kind of behaviour and tradition. Unfortunately, Eritrea doesn’t have such history or tradition and that might be the reason why we are always being taken by surprise. They (Ethiopia) are succeeding in manipulating the media and creating a bad image of Eritrea because the ruling regime of Ethiopia - the Meles Zenawi group - has such a notorious tradition which has destabilised the whole region and succeeded in creating a negative but temporary image of Eritrea.
*Q: What steps have you taken to clear yourself of the accusations? *
*A:* We are appealing to the UN and are speaking to the Governments in the
region. It is not only that the accusations are baseless and without proof
and evidence, but they don’t emanate or originate from the countries of the
region. Uganda has never accused Eritrea of any wrong doing in Kampala and
neither did the SPLM of South Sudan. We opened our Embassy in Juba long
before any country in the region. Kenya has never pointed a finger at us
over the accusation that our Embassy finances or transfers weapons to Al
Shabaab.
The paradox is that you are accused without an accuser and without the evidence. The only origin of all these ill-intentions and lies against Eritrea is Ethiopia on behalf of other countries. This would be a very interesting but funny case in the law.
But now that we are back in IGAD, it will not be long before we are able to assert our proper position and work for the benefit of the region. Peace and development as the name IGAD stands for.
*Q: Did the Kenyan government conduct any investigations?*
*A:* I have spoken to Government officials and told them that my job here is
to work for the interest of both countries within the context of diplomatic
rules and norms and within the Kenyan laws as well. We have never done
anything that jeopardises our relationship and or against my diplomatic duty
by transferring money or weapons to Al-Shabaab. The Government of Kenya has
never accused me of such things. They must have done their investigations in
their own way.
*Q: Is it true that Eritrea is supporting rebel groups inside of Ethiopia?*
*A: * No. In fact, on the contrary, in March Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian
leader, said publicly that his government shall use all means available to
see a regime change in Eritrea. Ethiopia, while asking the international
community for millions of dollars as aid for the famine in the country has
purchased 200 tanks and other armaments again announcing the purchase
publicly as if the weapons of destruction are tractors and tools for
farming. To everybody’s surprise the donors, international community and the
media have said nothing or very little. The Government of Ethiopia has been
very active for the last decade arming Eritreans and conducting terrorist
activities against my country. They have tried creating groups from some of
the Eritrean living in Ethiopia and even in the Diaspora. But, of course, to
no avail.
*Q: Why has Eritrea rejoined IGAD?*
*Q: What is Eritrea’s response on the recent IGAD meeting where the Eritrean
Representative was blocked from attending? *
*A:* It is very sad to hear such kinds of stories. It is only Ethiopia that
is trying to block us against the charter or the law of IGAD - the
reactivation of our membership. In protest at the Ethiopian invasion of
Somalia in 2006, we froze or suspended our membership and now when we have
decided that it is the right time to be back in IGAD, we are, according to
the rules and regulations, automatically there. And to that effect, the
countries in the region have not only accepted us happily but they have been
asking Eritrea to come back to IGAD because we are part of the region. They
wish to see Eritrea in peace and developing and most important because
Eritrea has never withdrawn its membership from the organisation. No wonder
Ethiopia is fighting hard to prevent Eritrea from coming back.
*Q: Your Excellency, you cover diplomatic duties in the whole of East
Africa? *
*A:* Yes, but now we are upgrading our diplomatic presence in Kampala to
Embassy level. I cover Tanzania.
*Q: Do you have an embassy in Ethiopia?*
*A:* No, we do not have diplomatic relations with Ethiopia since they
invaded Eritrea in 1998 when they expelled our Ambassador who was also our
representative to the African Union. They also expelled the whole embassy
staff and ransacked and confiscated our properties, vehicles and all
documents against international laws and norms. Since Addis Ababa is the
seat of the AU, we could not be represented in the organisation because the
Ethiopian Government refused to allow the presence of any Eritrean diplomat
in the capital. That is why we were not also active in the AU.
*Q: What happened between Meles Zenawi and Isaias Afewerki, they used to be
allies? *
*A:* Yes well, we collaborated with Meles’ group, the TPLF along with other
Ethiopian organisations to liberate Ethiopia. The then new Ethiopian
Government supported our referendum. We had, say, good neighbourly and
diplomatic relations until they suddenly invaded Eritrea in 1998 under the
pretext of a border conflict.
*Q: Eritrea has never had an election. How come? *
*A:* We drafted our constitution and elections were also included in it, but
Ethiopia suddenly invaded us. We have not had a chance to hold elections
ever since because we are in a ‘no war no peace’ situation.
Imagine! After the Algiers peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2000 and after the EEBC border conflict verdict of 2002, the Ethiopian army is still holding our territory including the town of Badme, which was established to be in Eritrea in the final and binding verdict of the EEBC.
The world should understand that we enjoyed only a few years of peace. With such an obstacle for peace as the presence of foreign Ethiopian troops, tanks and heavy weapons, how can a country manage to conduct elections?
We have time and again told the AU, the UN, the European community and the USA, who are the guarantors of the Algiers peace Agreement, that they should compel the Ethiopian troops to withdraw from our sovereign territory and force Ethiopia to honour the verdict to which we both signed to be final and binding.
If this is done, then we are ready to normalise the relationship with Ethiopia the next day and continue the democratisation process that we started earlier the way we think is fit to our society. We don’t believe election without full process of democratisation is functional or beneficiary to the people.
*Q: Is it true that Eritrea and Ethiopia have now taken their border wars to
Somalia?*
*A:* Is that the so-called proxy wars? We had very good relations with
Somalia. We were both colonised by Italians. Until 2006, we were working
together with Ethiopia, Kenya and the region for peace and stability in
Somalia until Ethiopia again suddenly invaded Somalia violating the UN
Security Council resolution 1726 that prevents frontline counties to
intervene militarily in Somalia. And as a manifestation of protest, because
IGAD didn’t stop or condemn Ethiopia we suspended our membership from IGAD.
Then on the contrary we were accused of supporting the Islamic Court Union of Somalia. If you remember, we were accused of having a 2000-strongman army in Somalia but it was just a fabrication. No single soldier was found.
Since then every now and then without respite, accusations of lies and fabrications pile one over the other against Eritrea mainly by the Ethiopian Government, only to camouflage its illegal occupation of part of Eritrea, it’s wrong doings inside its own country and the bullying of the region.
*Q: Of Ethiopia’s accusations against Eritrea, will it reach a point where
Eritrea will say enough is enough?*
*A:* No. It will come to an end. I believe it will come to an end because at
some point people will see through it all. If serious media people, not
those bought, try to find out what is wrong, it will end.
*Q: What is the human rights situation in Eritrea? *
*A:* I can talk at length about the meaning of human rights. People should
know their human rights for equal opportunity, for their right services to
health and education, for their right to participate in the daily social and
administrational affairs. The freedom of speech should be linked with these
things. They just should not be hollow and without meaning.
----[Mailing List for Eritrea Related News ]---- Received on Tue Oct 18 2011 - 14:29:45 EDT
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