Eritrea: Country Does Not Have Troops in Somalia

PRESS RELEASE
December 7, 2006
Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the UN
Asmara

Press Statement

06 December 2006

Eritrea does not have Troops in Somalia

Some news agencies covering the situation in Somalia are recently compromising their credibility by spreading groundless accusations against Eritrea. Without checking and verifying the validity of the reports, they are echoing baseless allegations that had been propagated by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and the million dollar paid Ethiopian lobbyists. The alleged presence of "2000 Eritrean troops in Somalia" and the possibility of "a proxy war between Eritrea and Ethiopia" is nothing but a cover up by major powers for Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia under the pretext of combating the spread of terrorism.

Eritrea categorically rejects this repeated defamation and disinformation campaign. The allegation that Eritrea has "2000 troops in Somalia" is baseless and sensational story. However, it is a well known and documented fact that the regime in Ethiopia has forced itself to be part of the Somali problem by militarily and politically interfering in the internal affairs of Somalia with the clear objective of preventing the re-establishment of a united and stable Somalia .

Eritrea does not have any hidden agenda and its stand on Somalia emanates from the historical ties and friendship that was extended to it by the Somali people during the 30 years of just struggle for its independence. Eritrea , therefore, remains committed to the regional peace and stability and reiterates its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Somalia or any other country. It will continue its positive engagement for the Somalis to find their own solution through dialogue and reconciliation without any foreign intervention.

Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the UN

New York , NY

Source: Shabait.com (Asmara)

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