August 17/ 2021 (Walta) – Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonen, has discussed with US Special Envoy to Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, today.
The DPM said that Ethiopia and America have cultivated a long-standing diplomatic relation based on mutual interest.
He briefed the special the envoy how the terrorist Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) attack on Ethiopia’s National Defense Northern Command brewed the current security crisis in Tigray Region.
TPLF has been designated as terror group by Ethiopian House of Peoples Representatives. The US designated TPLF as terrorist in 1976 while the group was an insurgent group operating in Tigray. That was way before TPLF capture Ethiopian state power in 1991 . One can look at the global terrorism database for the proof. However, it failed to do so now.
The DPM also briefed Feltman that TPLF incursion in to neighboring regions resulted in looting of private and public property, extrajudicial killings and an assault on the social, political and human development gains so far.
The DPM called on America to condemn the treasonous act of TPLF in the strongest word possible taking in to account the historical ties between the two countries.
The DPM stressed the need for the US to take firm stand in relation to exposing the evil deeds of TPLF.
He also warned about the danger TPLF has inflicted on Ethiopia’s territorial integrity in particular and the stability of the greater horn in general if it’s destabilization role is unchecked.
The US Special Envoy to the Horn, Jeffrey Feltman, said that the American Government practically understands the attitudes of the Ethiopian general public towards TPLF.
The Special Envoy reassured the DPM that the US policy towards Ethiopia has been based sustaining and ensuring Ethiopia’s sovereignty, peace and unity. That is the way forward, he added.
Feltman also emphasized that the relation between the two countries have a regional implication as well.
In his stay in Ethiopia, Feltman is expected to meet senior member of Ethiopian government.
For his third leg, the envoy is expected to travel to UAE. He has been to Djibouti before coming to Ethiopia.
In his stay in Djibouti, Feltman has met with lGAD chief Workineh Gebeyew (PhD).
Feltman will travel to the United Arab Emirates after accomplishing his stay in Ethiopia. He will stay in the three countries from August 15 to August 24.
The Special Envoy was assigned to meet with senior officials in the three countries to discuss opportunities for the United States to promote ‘peace and support the stability and prosperity of the Horn of Africa’.