Press Release

November 28/2007

Ministry of Information

SOMALIS' INHERENT RIGHT TO DECIDE ON THEIR OWN INTERNAL AFFAIRS

BY THEMSELVES SHALL NOT BE VIOLATED IN ANY CASE AND BY ANYONE.

Ethiopia, besides assisting the ongoing effort to ensuring a lasting peace in Somalia alongside the Transitional Federal Government and the peace-loving people of Somalia, could never have any role of enacting law and involving in either the appointment or the bringing down of government officials by meddling in the internal administration and function of the government of Somalia. It is only the government, the parliament and the people of Somalia that have the full power and responsibility to elect, appoint or overthrow their leaders. No foreign party can do this in replacement of the Somalis and the legitimate government structure and function the Somali people are governed by.

Nevertheless, it should be clearly known that the Ethiopian government has not, in any case, intervened in either the resignation of the former Prime Minister Mr. Ali Mohammed Gedi or the appointment of the new Prime Minister Mr. Nur Hassen Hussen. In spite of this, the contrary statement being told by some media outlets is not only totally unfounded but also an outlook that should be corrected since it is presented in a manner that describes as if the government, the parliament and the people of Somalia can not make decision about their own business by themselves.

Disseminating such a baseless report with out any accurate evidence harms the ongoing endeavor to bring about peace and stability in Somalia and the effort to make the Transitional Government properly execute its responsibilities. Furthermore, it is absolutely an erroneous opinion to consider the government and the parliament of Somalia as though they do not have the power and the ability to decide on the country's politics in accordance with the law. Even now and for the future, Ethiopia reaffirms its position to make unlimited contribution with regard to supporting the effort in order to help the people of Somalia enjoy a peaceful life by bringing about a reliable peace in the country and the Transitional Government being unfailingly defended with the rules and orders of the country.

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