EU demands Ethiopia explain expulsion of diplomats

Oct 20, 2006 (BRUSSELS) — The European Union Friday demanded that Ethiopia explain why two of its diplomats were expelled from the politically tense Horn of Africa country.

Ethiopian state television reported Thursday that police arrested two foreigners working with the E.U. because they were trying to help two Ethiopians wanted for serious crimes cross the southern border with Kenya. Amnesty International expressed concern about one of the Ethiopians it said was involved.

E.U. development spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio refused to elaborate on the Ethiopian charges “out of principle” since the E.U. was still awaiting an official explanation for the expulsion. But he said: “It is true that we are concerned about the situation of political members of the opposition that have suffered from persecution.”

E.U. Development Commissioner Louis Michel said he had called on the Ethiopian ambassador for an explanation of the expulsions. Michel also said he would continue to try to contact others in the Ethiopian government.

“This expulsion without explanation is totally unacceptable,” Michel said.

The E.U. head office confirmed the two E.U. diplomats were Bjorn Jonsson and Enrico Sborgi, who worked in the food and finances departments. The E.U. didn’t reveal their nationalities. The Swedish Foreign Ministry said one was a Swede, but wouldn’t confirm the name, saying it was an E.U. matter. E.U. development spokesman Altafaj Tardio said he expected they would already have returned to Europe.

The European Union is one of Ethiopia’s largest donors, but its officials have been sharply critical of political developments in Ethiopia amid questions about top Ethiopian officials’ commitment to democracy.

(AP)