Concerted efforts are needed to counter ongoing media campaign against Ethiopia: MFA

Addis Ababa, November 18, 2021 (FBC) – The spokesperson of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti, gave the Ministry’s weekly press briefing to the media. In his presentation, the Ambassador focused on political diplomacy and citizen-centered diplomatic activities over the week.

Ambassador Dina Mufti told journalist that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had welcomed President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta to Addis Ababa, had phone calls with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and prime minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven on bilateral issues of common interest.

Accusation from some international aid organizations concerning the implementation of the State of Emergency is baseless, he said, adding that now one is held related to identify and professional background.

People are not detained just because of their ethnic background. If the police found them free of their suspected involvement in prohibited activities as stated in the State of Emergency implementation procedure, police will immediately release them.

Reports on the detention of UN personnel do not have anything to do with the organization that they are working for. Again, if the police do not have evidence for their arrest, these people will be released from detention.

Vienna convention is being well observed in line with implementing the State of Emergency Decree in the light of handling of issues related to the workers of international organizations in the country.

The government is holding accountable only those who found contravened the laws incorporated in the State of Emergency, he noted.

The report on the government blockage of humanitarian supply to Tigray since October 18 is not true. On the day the interview has been made, 369 trucks loading humanitarian support have headed to Tigray. Flights to Kombolcha and Lalibela have also been allowed.

Reports on the siege of Addis Ababa by the TPLF and its affiliates are concocted by media outlets to create hysteria and disorient the government from its duty. Some of these media are CNN, New York Times, the BBC and Reuters.

In relation to this point, “Ethiopia current issue Fact Sheet” over the week has issued a statement downplaying the report by Reuters which claimed that the Government of Ethiopia, through the recently declared State of Emergency, has forced citizens to carry ID cards that identify their ethnic backgrounds.

The news story is false because the State of Emergency allows citizens to make use of various alternatives as identity documents including driver’s license, employment ID cards and national passports. None of these documents include the ethnicity of their bearer, he indicated.

Since the coming into office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, most municipalities that used to include ethnic Identity In residence ID cards have discontinued this practice.

Saying that BBC had misquoted the opinions of a retired U.S. Navy admiral who said, “Ethiopia’s Civil War Is a Problem U.S. Troops Can Help Solve”. , the Ambassador explained that the way the BBC reported this opinion boldly suggesting that the US has decided to send its troops to Ethiopia to solve the current problem is false. Although the BBC later changed its headline, we believe the story should not have been presented in a distorted way in the first place.

Although Ethiopia respects the opinion of the admiral, it should be underscored that we are capable of solving our problems through our own initiatives. We believe peaceful solutions from within, not due to External military interventions; will solve Ethiopia’s current challenges.

Some countries along with the media have continued wrong propaganda and disinformation against Ethiopia, he noted, calling for concerted efforts to counter the distorted narratives against the nation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has issued a statement over the week urging the US Government to rescind its decision to impose sanctions on the Eritrean Government.

The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) fired rockets at a sovereign country in the first place and the Eritrean Government, like any other sovereign country, had to respond to the imminent danger posed by the TPLF to its territorial integrity and security.

Ambassador Dina also noted that the Government of Ethiopia has never lodged any grievances to the international community regarding the initial presence of Eritrean forces on its soil. The prerogative to put forth such a complaint lies with the Government of Ethiopia and not any other country.

The Government of Eritrea has already evacuated its military forces from Ethiopia following the declaration of the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire by the Government of Ethiopia at the end of June 2021.

The Government of Ethiopia does not believe that the State of Eritrea is an impediment to sustainable peace in Ethiopia. The real and present threat to peace in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa Region is the TPLF which should be held accountable for its wrongdoings.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has issued a statement yesterday strongly condemning the recent bomb attacks in Kampala, Uganda. The Government of Ethiopia stated its solidarity with the government of Uganda in fighting terrorism. The Government extends condolences to the families of people who have lost their lives due to the twin bombings in the city.

Compatriots living in several parts of the world are showing strong solidarity with the government of Ethiopia, he noted.

The Ethiopian Embassy in London, in collaboration with the UK and Ireland support Network for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam collected more than 11.4 million Birr during a one-night fundraising event in London.

Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian origins, and friends of Ethiopia living in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain have held a rally on Monday in Brussels protesting undue external pressures against Ethiopia.

They urged the European Union and the United States to refrain from unnecessarily pressuring the government of Ethiopia.

They made speeches and displayed posters that denounced the TPLF, supported the leadership of the Government of Ethiopia, and called for the international community and the media to respect the sovereignty of Ethiopia.

The Diaspora Advocacy Team in Belgium that organized the rally has announced plans to replicate the experience in many countries in Europe.

Concerning recent visit of the Secretary of State of the U.S. Antony Blinken, Ambassador Dina said Ethiopia appreciates the position of Kenya on current situation in the country.

Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, Raychelle Omamo’s assertion that underlines “Ethiopia has wisdom to resolve its internal problem by itself” is commendable, he underscored.