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Ethiopian MP asks government to
accept court's border ruling Mr Dereje Bekele, a member of the Ethiopian House of People's
Representatives from Ilubabor [western Ethiopia], told Addis Zena in an
interview that Eritrea would have some legal basis if it launched a war
against Ethiopia now. According to Mr Dereje, the prevailing impasse between Ethiopia and
Eritrea was brought about by the [Ethiopian] executive body when it failed to
listen to MPs suggestions. Elaborating, Mr Dereje said the government went
for dialogue [with Eritrea] by agreeing to abide by the court's final
decision and the ruling came out in favour of Eritrea. Eritrea has managed to
get justice in the international legal forum. He said Eritrea would have some
legal basis if it launched war now in a bid to regain the territory awarded
to it by an international court. While answering a question on the prevailing tension between the two
countries, Mr Dereje said currently one group is asking for dialogue in order
to deceive others, because the court has already awarded Badme to Eritrea. It would have been appropriate if the court had not issued the ruling.
It now futile to argue after the ruling was made and the file closed.
[Passage omitted]. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government is currently recruiting a reserve
army. The government has asked Addis Ababa residents, particularly those
between the ages of 18 and 35, to register voluntarily. [Passage omitted]. Mr Dereje said it would have been appropriate for the government to
recruit demobilized soldiers, as this would have reduced its expenses. Publication date: 2003-12-20 |