Kidnapped Ethiopians and Europeans Victims of Terrorism
(15/03/2007)
The following Press Statement was issued by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night.
Kidnapped Ethiopians and Europeans Victims of Terrorism
Five Europeans and eight Ethiopians were forcefully abducted and taken to Eritrea while sight seeing in the Afar National Regional State [on 1st March 2007]. The five European hostages were freed in Asmara on Tuesday 13th March 2007. The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia wishes to express its satisfaction over the safe release of the European hostages.
However, the eight Ethiopian hostages abducted with the Europeans have still not
been released. There is no doubt that abduction was masterminded and executed
by the Eritrean Government. Notwithstanding the fact that the Ethiopian
Government had discovered this truth, the focus was on securing the safe-release
of these abducted individuals.
Undoubtedly, this criminal act is part and parcel of terrorist activities the Eritrean Government has been undertaking. It will be recalled that the Ethiopian Government has disclosed terrorist acts committed by the Eritrean Government in different cities and towns in Ethiopia including in Addis Ababa. The Eritrean Government has carried out bomb attacks against hotels, market areas and public transport targeting civilians.
In particular, in a recent act of terrorism the Eritrean regime had planned to disrupt the 8th African Union Summit, which was held in Addis Ababa. This terrorist act was foiled by the joint anti-terror task force of the Federal Police and The National Intelligence and Security Service with the active participation of the public.
The international community is fully cognizant of the fact that the Eritrean Government is perpetrating terrorist activities aimed at destabilising the region. It will be recalled that the Report of the UN Security Council Monitoring Team on Somalia exposed that the Eritrean Government has been training, organising and providing weapons to terrorist groups in Somalia.
The anti-peace activities conducted in Somalia by the Eritrean regime in collaboration with Afghan-trained al-Qaeda extremists, such as Colonel Hassan Dahir Aweys, Abdellah Al-Sudani, Adan Hashi Ayro, Muktar Robo and other extremists, was thwarted by the Ethiopian Defense Forces. It is clear that the Eritrean regime is bent on reorganising the remnants of the Islamic Courts in order to send them on other terrorist missions.
Thus, it has become manifestly evident that the Eritrean regime not only supports and propounds terrorism but is also directly involved in active terrorism.
The Ethiopian Government has reiterated its commitment to securing the well-being and safe-release of the hostages and has exerted utmost efforts to this end. Though the Eritrean Government has been denying involvement in the abduction, it was forced to release five of the thirteen hostages following pressure exerted by the international community. However, the fact that the Ethiopians, who were accompanying the foreigners, and have also fallen victim to the terrorist act of abduction committed by the Eritrean Government, remain hostages, is of great concern to the Ethiopian Government.
The Ethiopian Government expects that the international community will take appropriate measures regarding this terrorist act committed by the Eritrean regime in flagrant violation of international law.
Above all, the Ethiopian Government demands the unconditional release of the eight Ethiopian nationals, who are victims of terrorism. It holds the Eritrean Government responsible for any injury they might sustain. The Ethiopian Government is fully confident that the international community and the media will shine a spotlight, with similar intensity, on the grave situation of the abducted Ethiopian nationals while supporting efforts to make the Eritrean Government accountable for its terrorist act.
Unless timely action is taken, the destructive activities of the Eritrean regime
could further undermine regional and international peace and security.
It should be underlined here that the Ethiopian Government has the legal basis,
relying upon all the human and material evidence at its disposal, to make the
Eritrean regime account for its deeds in the appropriate fora. As the terrorist
acts of the Eritrean Government that claimed lives and caused damage to property
were committed in broad day-light, they will be corroborated beyond any doubt.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Addis Ababa
ENDS