Eritrea Calls for Respect of International Law
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara,  23 April 1999

As the UN special envoy, Ambassador Sahnun, prepares to return to the region in pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the regime in Addis Ababa is issuing a flurry of statements on the need not to "reward aggression".   The TPLF regime attempts to portray itself as a "victim of Eritrean aggression" through the distortion of facts and omission of crucial events.  It argues that the border conflict has its origins in early May of 1998 when "Eritrea suddenly attacked Ethiopia" in the Badme region; (even then the date is sometimes May 6 and at other times May 12).

The moral high ground that the TPLF regime is attempting to straddle can not be taken seriously when one considers the true origins of the conflict and pattern of Ethiopian aggression.

Ethiopia has displayed a pattern of disregard for international law and accepted norms of State behaviour.  The aggrieved picture it seeks to portray and the banner of righteousness it is waving at the world becomes satirical in the light of its aggressive acts which caused the conflict. The TPLF cannot speak about international principles unless it is willing to confess its blatant violation of them and come clean on the actions it undertook to force a war of aggression on Eritrea.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara,  23 April 1999