As the law enforcement operation concluded its final stage this week, Ethiopian diplomats have been busy clarifying its purpose to the international community who were misinformed about the issue by the some international media outlets.
As to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) the diplomatic efforts to change the wrong perceptions of some international communities’ about the law enforcement operation in northern Ethiopia were successful.
High-level government officials shuttled to and fro neighboring and other countries to explain about the ultimate objective of the law enforcement operation in Tigray Regional State.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen held a phone conversation with Jeppe Kofod, Foreign Minister of Denmark.
In their conversation, Demeke addressed the Danish Foreign Minister’s concerns over the situation in Tigray and the humanitarian activities there.
Demeke told Kofod that the operation in Tigray is over by now and the government is engaging in reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the region.
The federal government has continued to work with the interim government of Tigray and manhunt the TPLF criminals to bring them to justice, he added.
He also thanked the international humanitarian agencies for closely working with the government and other relevant bodies in the country in delivering assistance to affected people.
He also underlined that the government is actively working with the government of Sudan to return refugees and displaced people to their homes.
Jeppe Kofod, on his part, expressed his country’s commitment to support the Ethiopian government in every way possible in providing humanitarian assistance and protecting the rights of civilians.
The ministers have also talked about the upcoming Ethiopian general election where the Danish government has shown willingness to support.
Meanwhile, Demeke also held a phone conversation with Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.
Demeke commended the long-standing and friendly relationship that exists between the two countries and underlined the need to further strengthen it.
Regarding Tigray, Demeke said the law enforcement operation has successfully been completed, carefully avoiding civilian casualties, with Mekelle now fully under the control of the national defense forces.
The government will apprehend the leaders and cliques of the TPLF junta, he said adding that some have begun to surrender to the government.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the government is now engaged with reconstruction and rehabilitation, and law and order restoration activities in the region.
The government is working in close consultations and collaboration with the interim government of Tigray that has been active in holding public discussions and organizing regional executive organs.
Sergei Lavrov, on his part, thanked Demeke for the briefing and affirmed that Russia respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia.
Appreciating what the Ethiopian government is doing to protect the rights of civilians and provide humanitarian assistance to affected people, he said Russia believes that ensuring peace in Ethiopia is indispensable to let peace reign in the Horn of Africa.
He said the government of Ethiopia has got the right to enforce law and order in the country without the interference of external parties since the matter is the internal affair of the country.
He further added that Ethiopia and Russia should strive more to scale up their bilateral relations and cooperation in multilateral fora.
After the control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, by the Ethiopian National Defense forces, Ambassador Million Samuel, Ethiopia’s ambassador to the Hague, Netherlands made an exclusive interview with “NRC Netherlands” on the current situation in Ethiopia. In explaining what would be the next step in the law enforcement operation in Tigray, he said: “There are warrants for a search against just under two hundred people. They are being searched, for now, door-to-door.
And legal political parties from Tigray are coming together to see what needs to be done about reconstruction, that is the next important step. ”
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to France, Henok Teferra Shawl also appeared for an interview on France24 TV to talk about current situation in Ethiopia, particularly the Ethiopian government’s decision to allow the UN unfettered access to deliver humanitarian aid in Tigray region.
He also explained why there are discrepancies between what the TPLF forces claim and the federal government is saying regarding the situation of civilians in the region and on other issues too.
Ethiopian Ambassador in Canada, Nasise Challi briefed, Assistant Deputy Minister for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Global Affairs for the government of Canada, Mala Khanna about the law enforcement operation in Ethiopia.
Ambassador Nasise emphasized that this operation was necessary to rescue the country’s constitutional order and bring perpetrators to justice.
She also assured that the Ethiopian government is committed and ready to work with its partners to help displaced civilians.
Assistant Deputy Minister for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Global Affairs Mala Khanna expressed her appreciation for the briefing and stressed that Canada will always stand with the Ethiopian people and extend its support in the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
The Ethiopian Herald December 6/2020
