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Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, yesterday briefed EU Ambassadors based in Addis Ababa on the operation in Tigray.

He spoke at length about the government’s crackdown on the TPLF junta in the Tigray region and the causes, contents, and objectives of the operation.

Demeke said the operation is aimed at restoring law and order in the region and bringing the TPLF criminals, who attacked the Northern Command of Ethiopian Defense Forces, to justice.

He said the campaign differentiates the TPLF junta from the people of Tigray and will meet its objectives without endangering public safety.

It is wrong to see the people of Tigray and the TPLF junta as one, and it is irresponsible for the TPLF to use the people of Tigray as human shield, he said.

EU Ambassadors, on their part, said they understand the Ethiopian government’s ongoing efforts to maintain law and order, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Demeke elaborated on the government’s efforts to rehabilitate displaced people and appreciated the full support of neighboring countries in understanding the federal government’s sovereign right to deal with its internal affairs.

Chief Executive of Provisional Administration of Tigray National Regional State, H.E. Dr. Mulu Nega and State Minister, H.E. Ambassador Redwan Hussein briefed the media today (November 19) about the law enforcement operation that is underway in Tigray.

Dr. Mulu Nega further expounded on the priorities of the interim administration. Under the interim administration, Dr. Mulu said, criminals will be brought to justice, cases of unlawfully incarcerated people will be reviewed, the political space in Tigray will be expanded, and humanitarian assistance will be supplied to vulnerable people, among other things.

 H.E. Mr. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, and Her.E. Ms. Ann Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, spoke over the phone today (November 19) regarding the status of the law enforcement operation underway in Tigray.

Mr. Demeke addressed Ms. Ann Linde’s concerns over the possibilities of negotiation between the federal government of Ethiopia and TPLF, communication and power supplies in the region, and humanitarian works to the displaced and vulnerable people due to the operation.

Mr. Demeke highlighted how the federal government went too far in soothing relations with the TPLF junta since the reformist Prime Minister assumed power.

He said the government gave ample chances to TPLF to actively participate in the newly structured political dispensation in which the junta stubbornly refused to take part.

Ousted from power, the junta got itself busy masterminding violent actions through financing, organizing, and deploying extremist groups in every corner of the country, he said.

The TPLF junta also defied the constitutional order by conducting elections beyond its mandate, he added.

The attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian Defense Forces by the TPLF clique was the last straw that compelled the government to take swift actions against the junta, Mr. Demeke said.

Mr. Demeke underscored that Ethiopia appreciates the international community for urging the two sides to negotiate.

But, he said, the government is not interested to negotiate with criminals, and it has resolved to bring the TPLF junta to justice and restore the constitutional order through the ongoing operation.

The government of Ethiopia is working with international agencies to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people and vulnerable ones in the region, in addition to restoring communication and banking services which were initially disrupted by the actions of the junta, he said.

During their conversation, Mr. Demeke said Ethiopia attaches high importance to its long-standing relations with Sweden.

He appreciated Sweden for maintaining significant development cooperation assistance to Ethiopia and commended its support to the ongoing reform programs in Ethiopia.

PRESS RELEASES ON THE TRIPARTITE FOLLOW UP MEETING OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTERS OF WATER AFFAIRS ON GERD

Addis Ababa (November 19, 2020)

The follow-up trilateral ministerial virtual meeting of ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of water affairs of Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan is held on November 19, 2020. The meeting is convened by the Minister of International Relation and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the AU Executive Council.

The Ministers discussed the text course of action in resuming the negotiation. Understanding is reached on the need to continue the negotiation on the first filling and annual operation rules of the GERD. Although the delegation of Sudan conditioned its participation on the alteration of the format of the negotiation, the Chairperson of the Executive Council concluded the meeting urging the Parties to produce a text that can be presented to the meeting of heads of states and governments.

The trilateral technical meeting is expected to resume under the chairmanship of the Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy Affairs of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen yesterday briefed President of DR Congo, Félix Tshisekedi about the operation in Tigray and the negotiation over the GERD.

He further conveyed the message and greetings of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the President.

As far as the law enforcement operation in Tigray is concerned, Demeke reiterated how the rogue and intransigent TPLF clique have been undermining the sweeping reform that brought hope to Ethiopian citizens.

He said the TPLF junta has also been playing a destructive role by financing, organizing and deploying extremist groups in the country for the last two and a half year.

Testing the government’s patience to its limits, said Demeke, the TPLF group brutally attacked the Northern Command Force on November 04, 2020.

He said the operation in Tigray would end rapidly restoring the rule of law in the region and bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.

President Félix Tshisekedi for his part underscored that the government’s law enforcement operation in Tigray is a domestic affair which does not call for any external intervention.

He said the government of Ethiopia has the obligation to protect the constitutional order and uphold the rule of law when extremist groups act unconstitutionally to meet their objectives.

In their discussion about the ongoing negotiation over the GERD, Demeke underlined Ethiopia’s desire to work together with the DR Congo in water and natural resource development and other fields.

Demeke noted that as the main sources of the Nile River, the two countries need to utilize the water resources to accelerate their economic development.

He also expressed his confidence that the Democratic Republic of the Congo would ratify the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) over the Nile Basin water resources.

President Félix Tshisekedi expressed his hope that Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt would reach a negotiated agreement regarding outstanding issues of the GERD negotiation.

The President also reaffirmed his decision to further consult on relevant bodies to ratify the CFA, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.