Interview
Eritrea blames Somalia's neighbours for violence
21 October, 2009 | By Jeremy Clarke
* President says peace cannot be imposed
* Sanctions threat against Eritrea gathers pace
of the solution," Isaias told Reuters in an interview.
The former Marxist guerrilla rejected suggestions that a solution to the
violence -- which has killed 18,000 since the start of 2007 -- could be
imposed on the divided nation.
"For the parties who are a part of the problem to come with the solution is
unthinkable. The experience of the last 20 years is proof to that," Isaias
said.
"It is not an option to impose a government from outside in Mogadishu
and declare that government to be a government of all Somalia. You
cannot impose a peacekeeping force in one city and say there is a
government."
Isaias said the involvement of the United States was complicating the
peace process because it had become preoccupied with hunting terrorist
suspects.
"The United States (and others) getting involved in Somalia because of
what they call terrorism is a problem. In Somalia it is distorting the facts
on the ground and probably fuelling undesired external intervention from
neighbouring countries."
SANCTIONS?
Washington and the United Nations accuse Eritrea of sending arms and
other support to Somali insurgents battling the country's U.N.-backed
government -- something Asmara denies.
A U.N. arms monitoring body -- set up to watch violations of a 1992
arms embargo -- said Asmara was sending plane- and boat-loads of
munitions to Somali rebels, as well as providing them with logistical
support.
The U.N. body said Asmara was providing between $200,000 and
$500,000 a month to support the rebels.
The move towards imposing sanctions on Eritrea has gathered speed in
recent weeks with Britain joining the chorus of nations willing to punish
the Red Sea state.
The U.N. Security Council, the African Union and the United States have
all warned Eritrea against destabilising Somalia.
Isaias denied the accusations and said sanctions should not be imposed
without evidence.
"All these accusations have nothing to do with the reality on the ground. If
you have evidence, come up and show me.
Courtesy
Eritrea blames Somalia's neighbours for violence
21 October, 2009 | By Jeremy Clarke
* President says peace cannot be imposed
* Sanctions threat against Eritrea gathers pace
- ASMARA, Oct 21 (Reuters) -
Eritrean President Isaias
Afwerki said on Wednesday
that years of interference by
neighbouring countries had
fuelled the violence in Somalia.
He blamed Ethiopia, Kenya and
Djibouti for having fanned the
conflict in the chaotic Horn of
Africa nation.
of the solution," Isaias told Reuters in an interview.
The former Marxist guerrilla rejected suggestions that a solution to the
violence -- which has killed 18,000 since the start of 2007 -- could be
imposed on the divided nation.
"For the parties who are a part of the problem to come with the solution is
unthinkable. The experience of the last 20 years is proof to that," Isaias
said.
"It is not an option to impose a government from outside in Mogadishu
and declare that government to be a government of all Somalia. You
cannot impose a peacekeeping force in one city and say there is a
government."
Isaias said the involvement of the United States was complicating the
peace process because it had become preoccupied with hunting terrorist
suspects.
"The United States (and others) getting involved in Somalia because of
what they call terrorism is a problem. In Somalia it is distorting the facts
on the ground and probably fuelling undesired external intervention from
neighbouring countries."
SANCTIONS?
Washington and the United Nations accuse Eritrea of sending arms and
other support to Somali insurgents battling the country's U.N.-backed
government -- something Asmara denies.
A U.N. arms monitoring body -- set up to watch violations of a 1992
arms embargo -- said Asmara was sending plane- and boat-loads of
munitions to Somali rebels, as well as providing them with logistical
support.
The U.N. body said Asmara was providing between $200,000 and
$500,000 a month to support the rebels.
The move towards imposing sanctions on Eritrea has gathered speed in
recent weeks with Britain joining the chorus of nations willing to punish
the Red Sea state.
The U.N. Security Council, the African Union and the United States have
all warned Eritrea against destabilising Somalia.
Isaias denied the accusations and said sanctions should not be imposed
without evidence.
"All these accusations have nothing to do with the reality on the ground. If
you have evidence, come up and show me.
Courtesy
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