National dialogue should not be mistaken as negotiation with terrorist TPLF: GCS

Addis Ababa, December 22, 2021 (FBC) – State Minister of the Government Communications Service, Kebede Desisa, in a press briefing, underlined that the process for the national dialogue should not be mistaken as a preparation to negotiate with the terrorist TPLF group.

The State Minister said that the national dialogue is one of the commitments that had been made by the government before the terrorist TPLF waged the war against the nation. The undergoing process for the national dialogue is aimed to ensure national consensus in line with reinforcing the nation building. “It is the agenda set forth before the conflict broke out,” he stressed.

As per the commitment of the government to establish an independent institution to oversee the process, the draft proclamation of establishment of the national dialogue commission will be passed by the house soon, he said, adding that preparation of legal frameworks has already been finalized accordingly, he said.

Regarding the operation for Unity in Diversity, the State Minister said the national army will continue military measures to ensure that the terrorist TPLF is no more a threat to the nation.

Kebede underscored that to cover up the defeat and the complete devastation it sustained recently, the terrorist TPLF is circulating information claiming that its fighters are retreating based on its order for withdrawal.

The false claim is aimed to mislead the international media and mothers of Tigray region that might ask about whereabouts of their children forcefully brought to war, he explaned.

Some western media such as the CNN are echoing the misleading narrative of the terrorist TPLF by twisting the fact that Ethiopian joint forces have wiped out fighters of the renegade group from territories of Amhara and Afar Regions with strong military measure.

“CNN and other media that are known for their fake news such as “Addis Ababa under siege” are distributing disinformation claiming the terrorist TPLF is withdrawing to give peace a chance,” he said.

Some countries are working to manipulate the UN Human Rights Council for their politically motivate agenda against Ethiopia, he said.

He added that the United Nations Security Council had conducted twelve meetings on Ethiopia of which two were related to humanitarian issues in Ethiopia and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Many are associating the recent UNHRC’s Special Session with the Berlin Conference that was held in 1884 over scramble of Africa, that is why African countries categorically rejected the resolution passed during the meeting, he said.