Norwegian envoy to Ethiopia denies quotes by Eritrean media

Feb 6, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia on Monday rejected any dealing with an alleged press statement that claimed to quote Norwegian Ambassador to Ethiopia Mette Ravn as warning Norwegian citizens against travel to the country.

News of the alleged press statement has been broadcast in Amharic by Eritrean radio and television last week, a press release from the embassy said.

“I firmly reject any knowledge of a press statement quoting me in regard to the current political situation in Ethiopia,” the release quoted Ambassador Ravn as having commented.

“The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no current travel advise on Ethiopia. The Royal Norwegian Embassy regrets if the forged news has influenced the understanding of the Eritrean or the Ethiopian public on Norwegian positions toward Ethiopia,” the release said.

From 1998 to 2000, Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border war, in which 70,000 people were killed. Since July 2001, a UN peacekeeping force, which now numbers about 3,000 troops and observers, has been patrolling a buffer zone separating the two countries’ militaries.

In recent months, tensions have grown with renewed military buildup along the Ethio-Eritrean border.

(Xinhua)