Asmara — From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On 21 April 2008, the TPLF regime issued a press release in connection to its severing of diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar.

The measure taken was indeed shocking and caused all who followed closely to inquire as to why the 'measure' came to be.

Furthermore, the State and Government of Eritrea are mentioned in the press release. Therefore, as it is compulsory that observers have a clear and in depth understanding of the whole matter; the relevant truth is stated as follows:

A couple of months back, the State Department labeled Eritrea as a 'state sponsor of terrorism', and when requested to state the reasons, it unofficially alleged that 'Eritrea is a conduit of support of Qatar and Libya to Somalia,' a statement that was entirely unsubstantiated and that completely shocked all those who followed the affair closely.

The TPLF regime and its allies were busy in pursuing their sinister ploys of adventurist and erroneous policies under the guise of 'terrorism' in the Horn region in general and in Ethiopia and Somalia in particular, on one hand, while searching for a way out from the frustration that followed after their gamble failed, on the other. But the truth of the matter remains that the character of blackmail pursued by the TPLF by creating situations and expecting reward for them will by no means confuse even the naïve.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

April 23, Asmara