We Are Proud To Have A Conscious Army: Dr. Negasso

ADDIS ABABA, March 3 (WIC) - Dr. Negasso Gidada, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, has said that Ethiopia has every reason to feel proud for possessing an army that is fully aware of the purposes of the on-going war with Eritrea.  In an exclusive interview he gave to WIC, President Dr. Negasso said that the sole aim of the counter offensive against Eritrea is to regain the country's invaded territories and to ensure respect for Ethiopia's sovereignty and not to encroach on Eritrean territory as the Issayas Administration maintains.

Dr. Negasso said that if Ethiopia had cherished such a dream, it would have made attempts to obstruct the processes of the Eritrean independence referendum in which Eritreans in Ethiopia participated.

Reiterating that Ethiopia has no hidden agenda at all in this regard, Dr. Negasso said Ethiopia would not attempt violating Eritrea's sovereignty and territorial integrity because doing so would mean violating the Ethiopian constitution which was approved by the Ethiopian peoples.

The President said the Isayas Administration is fanning such a futile propaganda as a ploy to divert the attention of the Eritrean people and opposition political groups from the simmering internal political and economic problems.

Asked to comment on the recent UN Security Council Resolution on arms sales embargo to Ethiopia, Dr. Negasso said that not all members of both the League of Nations and the UN imposed the embargo on Ethiopia during Ethiopia's conflict with Italy and Somalia.  He said the call for cessation of arms sales to Ethiopia in both cases emanated out of the desire by the super powers to promote their strategic interests.

Noting that the UN resolution placed the aggressor and the victim of aggression on the same footing, the President said it is saddening that such a decision should be passed when it is known that Ethiopia, as a law-abiding country, does not have any contacts with arms smuggling rogue countries.  He also noted that Eritrea, which has outlets to the sea, is not affected by the embargo.

Dr. Negasso reiterated that the UN resolution has extremely saddened the Ethiopian peoples because it has the potential to obstruct Ethiopia's efforts to defend itself against aggression.

Commenting on the causes of Ethiopia's victory, Dr. Negasso said Ethiopia emerged victorious because in the first place Ethiopians fought a just war.  He added that the self defense effort also enjoyed the full backing of the people who also put in maximum preparedness thoughout the past nine months.

Finally, Dr. Negasso urged the Ethiopian peoples to continue providing all the necessary rear assistance to the fighting forces.

The President assured the people of Tigray, who are close to the battle area, that they can count on the full support of the entire Ethiopian people in all future struggles.