Addis Ababa, June 18, 2015(WIC) – Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen says the accusation on offering land to Sudan along its border with Amhara Regional State is baseless.
A few anti-Ethiopian groups at home and abroad have been groundlessly accusing the the Amhara Regional State/Ethiopia for offering land to Sudan.
While responding questions posed by Ethiopian Diaspora members via Renaissance to Ethiopia Forum, DPM Demeke Mokennen said that it is so easy that any concerned group or individual can go to the place and check the reality on the ground.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, there no inches of land was offered to Sudan from the Amhara Regional State.
“In the first place Regional States are not authorized to handl boarder issues. It is only the Federal Government of Ethiopia that has the authority to negotiate and decide on boarder issues. Even in that sense there is no piece of land given to Sudan,” The Deputy Prime Minister added.
He also said that boarder issues could be raised but the government of Ethiopia has the right and duty to keep and maintain the sovereignty of the nation.
The Deputy Prime Minister disclosed that the major objectives of such accusations are to create a gap among top leadership; thereby, attempt to jeopardize development efforts.
He also recalled that higher officials of the government including Ayalew Gobeze, Ex-PM Melese Zenawi, PM Hailemariam Desalagn and he himself have repeatedly stated about this reality.