     RRA | Monday, February 05, 2001 - 09:27 am
Somali state disappointed by TNG's attempt to make Ethiopia scapegoat for its internal havoc: Official
Addis Ababa, Jan. 15(ENA)-- Head of the Somali State Administration says the Somali people and government are disappointed by the recent statement of the Somalian Transitional National Government (TNG) accusing Ethiopia of trying to intervene in the internal affairs of that country.
Abdureshid Duleni told ENA on Sunday that TNG's groundless allegation has discredited Ethiopia's efforts to help the Somalis achieve national reconciliation and establish a broad-based national government.
The government of Ethiopia has been in the vanguard to make successful the conference held in Djibouti to set up a transitional government in the war-torn Somalia, the head said.
He said Ethiopia had hosted several meetings among the various faction groups of Somalia to end anarchy and bring about peace and stability in that country.
Ethiopia has offered a save heaven to hundreds and thousands of Somali people, who fled their country to escape a brutal civil war in Somalia, Abdureshid said.
There are still over 120,000 Somali refugees taking shelter in Ethiopian refugee camps, he said, adding over 100,000 other Somali citizens are leading a peaceful life in various parts of Ethiopia including the capital city, Addis Ababa.
The head described as improper TNG's attempt to make Ethiopia scapegoat for its internal crisis.
Abdureshid said the Somali State government and people would rally behind the Ethiopian government in its efforts to set up a broad-based government in Somalia and ensure border security in the area.
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| RRA | Monday, February 05, 2001 - 09:29 am
TNG should stop creating artificial enemies for purely political purposes, to cover internal weaknesses :minister
Addis Ababa, Jan. 12 (ENA)--The transitional national government of Somalia (TNG) cannot be allowed to entertain the illusion that those who have legitimate national security concerns could be forced and bulldozed into silence by the threats of negative international opinion, foreign minister Seyoum Mesfin said.
In a letter he wrote to the Security Council of the United Nations on Wednesday Seyoum said the illusion in Somalia is potentially dangerous and could lead to the TNG to be more and more reckless.
The approach being used by the TNG to subdue those who have not accepted its authority within the country is now being used against the neighbors of Somalia that have raised some concerns with regard to its policy, he said.
The minister said the statement by the Prime Minister of the TNG from Djibouti is designed to make Ethiopia a scapegoat for the difficulties faced by the TNG inside the country.
The TNG is hoping that by blaming Ethiopia for its internal weakness, money would be flowing into its coffer and win greater support from the international community, he said.
"That the TNG might also be trying to drive a wedge between Ethiopia and some sections of the international community should not be ruled out", the minister said, adding that "this is very dangerous and bears all the hallmarks of a sinister motive."
The TNG should be told to resist the temptation of creating artificial enemies for purely political purposes and with the view to making up for their internal weaknesses, he said.
The entire diplomatic activity of the TNG has been geared towards soliciting money and support for vanquishing those who have not yet joined the Arta process, but who happen to have established peace and security in their respective regions, he said.
He said the 10-year-old conflict in Somalia could not be solved through reliance solely on support from out side.
Ethiopia believes that there is still great hope for genuine national reconciliation in Somalia and establishing a broad-based government in that country, the minister said.
He said "but this can be done only when the TNG ceases trying to create artificial enemies …a necessity felt by the TNG because of its outside orientation in search for support of all sorts, including support for political legitimacy."
The TNG should return in orientation back to Somalia and focus on what needs to be done domestically, he said.
He said, "We feel that all should contribute their level best towards maintaining the momentum created by the Arta conference including the TNG and those who were not part of the Arta process have great responsibility in this regard."
The TNG could not bring peace and stability in that country by securing the submission of those who were not part of the Arta process through whatever means including force and cultivating international legitimacy and recognition, he said.
It is only through dialogue that national reconciliation could be achieved in Somalia, he said.
The minister said the officials of the TNG will not advance the interest of Somalia by attacking those who refuse to encourage them to follow a path which will be unlikely to lead either to national reconciliation in Somalia or peace in that country.
The draft presidential statement on Somalia issued on Thursday by the Security Council of the United Nations underlined that "Somalia and its territory should not be used to undermine the stability in the sub region", was also the position of Ethiopia with regard to that country, minister Seyoum said.
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