Shabait.com (Asmara)

Eritrea: Statement By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

26 June 2009


press release

Asmara — The Spokesman of the State Department announced yesterday that the United States will deliver a new consignment of arms to a "government" that is devoid of any legitimacy and whose control does not extend beyond few neighborhoods in Mogadishu.

The Spokesman also alluded, in a passing remark, to his "concerns" on the role of Eritrea in Somalia.

These pronouncements do not contain novel or substantive elements. Nonetheless, the Government of Eritrea is obliged to repeat well-known facts on the situation in Somalia in order to put the record straight.

The crux of the problem underpinning the crisis in Somalia does not, and has never revolved around, the issue of extremism or non-extremis. It squarely revolves around the overarching issue of the existence or non-existence of a sovereign Somali State. Oversimplification of the problem and its wrong portrayal as a contest between extremist and non-extremist forces is thus neither sincere nor warranted by the facts on the ground.

To accept a fragmented Somalia as an accomplished fact and to forcibly install, without the consent and choice of the Somali people, "governments" who bear various labels and mantels, in the neighborhoods of "Mogadishu" and "Baidoa" cannot be legal by any standards. These approaches will not also contribute to a solution of the fundamental problem. As it is patently clear, no power in the world is above the rule of law. As such, no one can forcibly install a government of this nature in contravention of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Furthermore, and as it is sadly attested by events in the past years, this course of action is fraught with destructive consequences.

These are the indelible facts. In the event, the Government of Eritrea has not recognized in the past "governments" imposed through external interferences and that ran counter to the legal and political realities in Somalia. And, it shall not do so in the future. In our view, if the yardstick is legality and accepted legal norms, no other government can indulge in unwarranted recognition of such "governments".

U.S. Ships Weapons to Govt

The Government and people of Eritrea have the right and obligation to extend their moral and political support to the people of Somalia on the basis of these standard legal principles; and, in order to advance the choice of the Somali people, the continued existence of a sovereign Somalia and to put an end the enormous suffering of the Somali people. To distort the stance of the people and Government of Eritrea, and to use it as a pretext for illegal acts, will not only aggravate the crisis in Somalia but it will also be futile and counterproductive.

US misguided acts of intervention and supply of weapons have not, in the past years, advanced the cause of stability in Somalia. A repeat of those measures will not produce positive results but only aggravate and prolong the crisis.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Asmara

26 June 2009

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Author: loveuniversal
Mon Jun 29 19:21:27 2009

President Ahmed must not have recieved my letter that I have sent to the Mexican Government and the government of China. I would have sent the letter to any one of the countries of Africa but it is hard for me to find a E-mail address that would accept long documents. Just as I said in my letter that I had wrote to President Ahmed three or four weeks ago, now the events are coming true. It is not wise for Somalia to be accepting weapons from the U.S. as a predominately based muslim country, and when the U.S. is being seen as enemies of Islam. This was a huge mistake President Ahmed has made. If Somalia needs weapons to defend themselves, then it should look to other countries for the assistance. If not then the somali government must neogioiate. This war can be put to a stop, but it doesnt seem like world leaders want it to stop. It looks as if they want as many black or minority deaths as possible.

Author: gboyama
Tue Jun 30 03:20:45 2009

This sheepish insistence of seperating muslims from other religions on the grounds of sactimony is not only irresponsible but disgraceful . There's no more doubt that Islam is about to be completely hijacked by fundamentalist whose aim is one thing destry whoever is not a muslim. For heavens sake what good has the \Eritrean devilish effort toward Somalia done to sustain the country. You mean the poor and impoverished people of Somali haven't the right to live in peace . It's high time you Islamic fundamentalist realise that 'he who can thief for me can thief from me'. True that the Western worl especially the USA misunderstood the world and changes after the cold war and mishandled events after the september 11 attacks ,but suffice it to say at the end countries and nations such as the Somalian people ahve the fundamental right to live and sustain life without dictates of these vie and self proclaimed mullahs . Somalians need to be told that Somalia is an eye sore to mankind and the religion those external sponsors in europe and mainly the USA invoke to shamelesly and devilishly continue to spill the blood of mostly poor , hungry , desperate and defenseless Somalians . May God send you all parking into the hell fire .

Author: gishola
Fri Jun 26 17:49:18 2009

Supply of arms by the US will tend to escalate the civil war. The only way out for peace is resolution by dialogue. ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!

Author: jay
Fri Jun 26 18:48:24 2009

US needs to continue to send arms into Somalia and crush the Islamic militia's. Keep up the support to the Ethiopians and turn Somalia into a Christian nation!

Author: fyodor12
Sun Jun 28 00:11:19 2009

I think that most of us that are familiar, experienced, educated, or involved with issues in the Horn of Africa region, and international affairs, can agree that the prospect of turning a nation from one religion to another is not only impractical, but grandiose and insane. That aside, it is also important to realize that in countries where conflict has been the norm for so long, religion is rarely at the root of the violence, rather it is a vehicle used by warlords and power brokers to seize control of what little wealth there is in that country. This is why, in countries such as Somalia, support shifts from one group to another. Whoever has the wealth and power, or looks like they will attain such wealth and power, finds support from the masses in dire need of food and well-being. The leaders of these groups rarely accept terms that meet their stated objectives, if it does not include their personal wealth and power ambitions. Such is the case with Mr. Aweys.

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