Press Release

November 1/2007

Ministry of Information

RESOLVING BORDER DISPUTE THROUGH PEACEFUL DIALOGUE REMAINS TO BE ETHIOPIA'S FIRM OBJECTIVE

A few years have been counted since Ethiopia has practically revealed its firm readiness to peacefully resolving the boarder dispute with Eritrea and to its full realization.

            It is known that, from its strong wish to ensuring a lasting peace in the region, Ethiopia has issued a 'Five Point Peace Proposal' so as to resolve the problem through peaceful means. Though the Eritrean government has refused to accept it, it is apparent that this peace proposal of Ethiopia has gained the support of the UN Peace and Security Council, the European Union, the African Union and other countries of the region.

            Ethiopia has taken this firm position of settling the boarder stalemate through dialogue and negotiation in a bid to achieve in its endeavors of fighting poverty and backwardness and to succeed in its desire and readiness of ensuring a lasting peace in the horn region.

            However, the belligerent government of Eritrea who has never refrained from provoking arguments so as to hamper the Ethiopian peoples' development endeavor is now presenting a fictitious accusation against Ethiopia saying that Ethiopia is preparing itself to wage war on Eritrea. This in fact, could not be something that is hidden from the international community that Eritrea has deliberately devised this tactic to divert attention and conceal its internal and external crisis.

            Currently, the people and the government of Ethiopia have turned their full capacity and attention towards development and are making all out efforts along this same path. Ethiopia has repeatedly made it clear and practically proved that it never wish to conduct war and execute any action that could lead to war in this situation where a remarkable effort is being underway in the country to get rid of poverty.

            It is evident that Ethiopia has been unequivocally explaining its readiness to accept the Algers’ agreement and forwarded its proposals of peacefully resolving the issue of the boarder demarcation through dialogue. The Eritrean government, on the contrary, has been accumulating a large military force and huge war materials within the Security Zone by encroaching the restricted Temporary Security  Zone on despotism besides the repeated encumbrances it has caused against the successful operation of the UNMEE. This government has left no stone unturned to disturb the peace and stability of Ethiopia by making use of its messengers: OLF, ONLF, Somalia terrorists and others when it practically failed to hold a face to face war with Ethiopia even though the desire was there. The Eritrean government who is always committed to trouble not only the peace and stability of Ethiopia but also the horn region in general; and who has clearly categorized itself with terrorist groups at a state level by officially training and backing identified international terrorists still could not be able to refrain from its belligerent practices.

            Owing to the prevailing visible crisis in the country, corruption has currently reached its climax in Eritrea apart the very serious split among government officials that went to the extent of murder. As the entire people of Eritrea are exposed to a harsh problem, the whole situation in the country is really setting to the worst, The number of Eritrean citizens fleeing their hideous government order is increasing from time to time. To divert this public grievance and cover its internal problems, the Eritrean government has begun heralding its hoax accusation claiming Ethiopia has finalized preparations to invade Eritrea in November.

            Ethiopia, as it has been explaining several times in the past, opposes any provocative measure that leads to war and confrontation for it strongly believes that the boarder dispute can be settled only through diplomatic dialogue and peaceful means. To this end, the entire peace loving people properly recognizes that Ethiopia could never be a cause for war other than avoiding any threat that can instigate war,

            The Eritrean government should still understand its rejection of the repeatedly forwarded peaceful option of resolving the boarder disputes would not benefit it but rather costs it.