From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sat Feb 20 2010 - 05:43:01 EST
Eritrean President Refutes Claims of Supporting Somali Islamic groups
Describes Sanctions as Unjustifiable
Afwerki Criticizes ICC Move towards Sudanese President as baseless Legally,
Politically
Massawa, Editor-in-Chief - SV
Sudan Vision
20/02/2010
Eritrean President rejected categorically claims that his country supports
Somali Islamic groups,
describing UNSC sanctions against Eritrea as of no legal or political
justification. "Our position has always been that we cannot support one
(group) against the other", says Afwerki. While he declined to directly
accuse US administration, Afwerki holds special US interest groups
responsible of imposing the resolution on the UNSC members. "It was (the
sanctions) a result of the frustrations of United States special interest
groups who have for the last twenty years failed to achieve their goals in
Somalia and horn of Africa," he added.
In an interview with Sudan Vision last Saturday in Massawa, Afwerki
regretted the move of IGAD, AU to recommend sanction against his nation.
"How can Africa recommend sanctions against one member-nation without any
evidences or even justification for that action?" he said affirming the
necessity of regional peace. "If Sudan is peaceful and prosperous, I
benefit. If Ethiopia is peaceful and prosperous, I benefit. If Somalia is
peaceful I benefit."
Asked about the Sudanese Eritrean relation, Afwerki said that it's at its
best. On Saturday the Eritrean people celebrated the 20th anniversary of
Fenkil Operation which is considered as one of the historic victories in the
30 year-long Eritrean struggle for independence. A Sudanese official
delegation headed by Red Sea State governor, Dr. Mohammed Tahir Ella
represented Sudan in Massawa celebrations. Last Thursday both Red Sea state
governor, and Sudan Airways general manager inaugurated a new flight
connecting Port Sudan with Asmara.
The Eritrean President reaffirmed his position in rejecting the ICC move
against the Sudanese President. "This is not justified legally and
politically. Now, even the United States is not a signatory to the Rome
Convention or what they call it. What are the concrete evidences?" he asked
pointing out to the conflicting reports about deaths in Darfur. "How can you
rely on those who provided these evidences in the names of NGOs, in the
names of humanitarian organizations and in different organizations and
witnesses to have come with evidences to indict the President to the ICC,"
said Afwerki.
President Afwerki indicated that the border conflict between Eritrea and
Ethiopia is the main issue behind the current developments. "Even when we
went to arbitration and a verdict was given on the border conflict eight
years ago they bogged every possibility of solving this problem because they
want to keep Eritrea and Ethiopia hostage with a border dispute pending
without any solution and they can easily manipulate the whole situation
here."
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