Eritrea may force Ethiopia to wage war – Meles Zenawi

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

November 17, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, said Ethiopia will not open a war against Eritrea, however he added that he would be forced to defend his country if Eritrea started the war.

A 1998-2000 war on the border between the two neighbors killed 70,000 people and both sides accuse the other of preparing for a new war by moving troops closer to their disputed frontier area. Asmara claimed for the fourth time in two weeks that Addis Ababa was preparing to launch an assault.

In an interview with Al-Jezeera television, Meles answering to a question whether Ethiopia will open war against Eritrea, Meles said” though Eritrea has already starting to lit a war against Ethiopia; but Ethiopia won’t to engage her self to a war with Eritrea.”

But Meles has warned of a single condition Ethiopia may be forced to a war with Eritrea.
“If Eritrea made a full invasion against sovereign Ethiopia; then that will be the only and only reason we will open war against Eritrea” he said

Meles has strongly warned Eritrea of taking such a stupid move.

“If Eritrea opened war against us then that will be a suicidal move.”
Meles said adding “I don’t believe Eritrean government will dare to take such a suicidal move that will vanish him.”

Meles has also gave an answer to a question of how long Ethiopian troops will stay in Somalia

“Though there are major efforts from AU to replace Ethiopian forces in Somalia, financial shortcomings are dragging the efforts” Meles replied

“Ethiopia won’t make an irresponsible pull out from Somalia due current security situation on the ground in Somalia”

“Though Ethiopia is willing to pull out its troops from Somalia but with all the current security situations in Somalia the move will lead to a security gap in the already fragile situation of the country;” he added.

The United Nations has a peacekeeping force of 1,700 people charged with monitoring a security buffer zone on Eritrea’s side of the 1,000-km (620-mile) frontier. Under the terms of a June 2000 cease-fire, the zone is meant to be demilitarized.

(ST)