Ethiopia plays down rumors of “territory given to Sudan”
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
May 12, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The government of Ethiopia on Sunday said the rumors of “Ethiopian territory given away to Sudan” which is being broadcasted by mass medias and irresponsible bodies is a total groundless information.
The ministry of foreign affairs in a statement it released on Amharic version said “the rumors are a total fabrication which aimed to plot a conflict among the two brotherly people.”
“It is unquestionable that common border situation of any two countries in any part of the world is dealt in accordance with international laws and agreements, unlike those reckless bodies think that Ethiopia would take measures as it wishes.”
According to the statement the question of Ethiopia-Sudan border matters was decided in 1902 and 1907 with an international agreement made between the then Ethiopian administration and Britain, the then colonizer of Sudan; which later demarcated in 1903 and 1909 accordingly.
During the then Ethiopian regime of emperor Haileselasse the first, the two neighboring nations have signed a 1972 agreement to re-demarcate their border, as passed demarcation marks were not sufficient enough.
“Furthermore the two parties have agreed to find sustainable solution on issues of resettlement and farm lands along the border which however was suspended due to regime change, the Derg regime.” It said adding “even regime change occurred the Derg regime has pushed some progresses on this matter including setting up a special committee of government representatives and scholars to make deeper studies over the issue.”
In 1980 the sisterly nations made Khartoum agreement to restructure their border commission; however the then Derg regime was deposed before border question was resolved. It said.
“No matter with regime changes that occur Ethiopia, has long been committed to assure sustainable and reliable relation with the government and peoples of Sudan by taking its own affirmative measures even by inviting neighboring countries of the region to participate” the statement added.
Later in 2001 both nations set up a special committee responsible to find solutions regarding resettlement and farm lands.
The committee has been undertaking activities to prevent displacement and conflict between citizens of the two countries living along the border.
The ministry said not even a single Ethiopian farmer was displaced as concerned regional administration executives and farmers themselves were direct participants of the committee.
While the truth is this the destructive information being disseminated as Ethiopia’s territory is given to Sudan is aimed at creating conflict between public and government and also between peoples’ of the two countries.
It is not hidden from those disseminating the hearsay that border demarcation has its own law and system and government cannot make it as it likes, the foreign ministry said
Residents of the area know that the real situation in the area is far from the hearsay, the statement said.
No Ethiopian or Sudanese farmer has been displaced. Setting border marks is not concluded, the ministry said, adding, what is going on at present is preparation to set the marks in the future, the statement concluded.
(ST)