Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh criticized Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions as misguided and outdated, urging international intervention for respect of sovereignty. He denied Eritrea’s involvement in Ethiopian conflicts and rejected claims of war preparations. The backdrop of rising tensions highlights significant concerns from various leaders, including a U.S. senator, about the potential for renewed conflict in Northern Ethiopia.
Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh has expressed confusion over Ethiopia’s aspirations for maritime access, deeming these ambitions “misguided and outdated.” He called upon the international community to exert pressure on Ethiopia to honor the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighboring nations. This statement was made during a briefing at Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry with diplomats and UN representatives, where Saleh denounced accusations regarding Eritrea’s alleged preparations for war against Ethiopia.
In response to these accusations, Saleh clarified that the Eritrean Defense Forces have returned to internationally recognized borders following the conclusion of the two-year war in Tigray in November 2022. He asserted that claims suggesting otherwise are attempts to shift blame onto Eritrea for Ethiopia’s internal issues, attributing these remarks to former members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) who oppose the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruling.
Osman further mentioned that Eritrea considers the Pretoria Agreement as an internal matter for Ethiopia and stated that Eritrea has no interest in intervening. He firmly rejected the notion of Eritrea’s involvement in conflicts between the Tigray Interim Administration and the TPLF, insisting these claims were unfounded.
These remarks come in a context of rising tensions, with charges from former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome accusing Eritrea of seeking to exploit divisions within the TPLF to undermine the Pretoria Agreement. He warned that such actions could provoke a resurgence of conflict in Northern Ethiopia. This assertion was labeled an “audacious claim” by Eritrean Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel.
Recent remarks by leaders in Tigray have also heightened concerns, with Getachew Reda, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, alleging that Eritrea seeks to benefit from the chaos in Tigray. Lt. Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae warned that war between Ethiopia and Eritrea appears inevitable, potentially putting Tigray at the center of combat.
U.S. Senator Michael McCaul voiced apprehension regarding the escalating situation, cautioning that renewed conflict in Northern Ethiopia could result in catastrophic consequences. He urged both nations to de-escalate tensions promptly. Regarding Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions, Osman reiterated his perplexity over these aspirations, emphasizing that they jeopardize regional sovereignty and stability.
In summary, the statements from Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh underline the complexities of the relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia. He has called for international pressure on Ethiopia to respect the sovereignty of its neighbors while firmly denying involvement in internal Ethiopian conflicts. The heightened tensions, alongside accusations from various Ethiopian leaders, suggest an increasingly precarious situation in the region, necessitating urgent diplomatic intervention.
Original Source: addisstandard.com
