Recent provocation by TPLF continues to impact innocent civilians: Spokesperson

Addis Ababa, February 26, 2022 (FBC) – In an exclusive interview with Horn Affairs, Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti stated that the renewed provocation on the part of the TPLF continues to impact innocent civilians and disrupt their livelihoods.

“Though the government has allocated funds for relief efforts, the hostile group continues to impede the delivery of relief not only to Tigray but also to the conflict-affected zones in Afar and Amhara regions,” the Spokesperson said.

“In addition to funds and resources allocated to these regions, we are doing our level best to create unimpeded access. This is a priority for the Ethiopian government and remains the interest of the international community,” he added.

Ethiopia is working with international partners, like the WFP, however, as Amhara and Afar regions are most severely affected by TPLFs aggression, the government calls on partners and stakeholders to place heavier emphasis on efforts to relief destinations in these regions, Ambassador Dina noted.

Regarding the national dialogue, the Spokesperson said that Ethiopia hopes for this all-inclusive national dialogue to take place at every gamut of society.

“Aimed at addressing some of our core differences, it is not exclusively a dialogue among elites, but also one that takes place at the grassroots level,” he added.

The national dialogue creates a conducive environment to build a lasting peace on the foundation of mutual understanding.

“I would also like to iterate those designated as terrorists by parliament will not be participating in this process given their antithetical cause which does not align with the goal of an all-inclusive dialogue,” Dina stressed.

Concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ambassador Dina indicated that the building process is designed such that the construction and filling processes are sequential: each step being contingent upon the previous one. The reservoir filling stages are only a step in the logical sequence of the construction process.

“Since its inauguration in April 2011, Ethiopia has made its intention for the GERD very clear: Ethiopia wishes to use its natural resource to generate and provide power for the nearly 70 percent of its population that is living in darkness, and without basic access to electricity,” he said.

“I would like to reiterate that Ethiopia has no intention, nor does it intend to, harm downstream riparians, namely Egypt and Sudan. Since the Nile is a transboundary resource, we want this project to be a source of cooperation- not a source of friction or conflict. This is consistent not only with our position on the GERD but also with our vision for greater regional integration,”

As it pertains to the AU-led negotiations, Ethiopia remains fully committed to the tripartite talks with Sudan and Egypt, the Spokesperson underlined.

The Spokesperson underscored that Ethiopia hopes for swift stability and normalization in the region, and certainly intends to continue once the process resumes.