Statement by Finnish FM on Situation in Ethiopia Unsubstantiated: Ethiopian Ambassador

March 1/2021(ENA) The statement and facts given by the finnish Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto about the situation in Ethiopia do not reflect the reality on the ground and contain unsubstantiated claims, Ethiopian Ambassador in Brussels, Hirut Zemene said.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and EU institutions, Hirut Zemene made the remark in a letter she sent to the editor of EU Observer.

 “We have come across an article issued by your media outlet under the title Ethiopia war creating new 'refugee crisis', EU envoy warns  dated 24 February 2021, which was based on a briefing given by the Finnish foreign minister, Pekka Haavisto, on the current situation in Tigray region of Ethiopia after his visit to Ethiopia on behalf of the HRVP of the European Commission”, the Ambassador stated in the letter.

It is regrettable that the statement and facts given by Pekka Haavisto about the situation in Ethiopia do not reflect the reality on the ground and contain unsubstantiated claims, she stated.

According to the Ambassador, the Finnish foreign minister, during his visit to Ethiopia in mid-February, was accorded the opportunity to be briefed on the situation in Tigray by relevant higher government officials of Ethiopia, including with the prime minister.

The government of Ethiopia was also more than willing to facilitate travel to the region for the foreign minister to have a first-hand account of the situation in Tigray region, she said.  

However, minister Haavisto "showed no interest to travel to the region, but instead resorted to visit the refugee camp in neighboring Sudan and extrapolate grossly inadequate information to provide unfounded claims that put unnecessary pressure on the government of Ethiopia,"Ambassador Hirut stated in the letter.

The assertion made by the minister stating that "you have come to a situation which is militarily and human rights-wise, humanitarian-wise very out of control," does not reflect, by any means whatsoever, the tangible progress being registered thus far, she noted.

She underlined the fact that so far 3.1 million people have benefitted from humanitarian aid distributed in 34 woredas/districts out of 36 in the region as it has been also verified by several international organizations.

"The minister's inaccurate narrative also does not go along with the testimonies given by officials from different international humanitarian organizations operating in the region," according to the letter.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, who also travelled to Ethiopia this month to assess the situation in Tigray, has said that "we have also established a system of coordination between civilian organizations like ours [and] the military (the Ethiopian military in the Tigray region) … all these foundations now will allow for this humanitarian operation to speed up and reach the people in need, who are in the millions."

Similarly, recent reports from UN agencies such as WFP and UNOCHA indicated that there is an improved access for humanitarian supplies and personnel and the process of assessing, distributing, and delivering food items has continued, the letter indicated.

The Finnish foreign minister's assertion that "the government themselves do not have a clear picture, particularly [in] areas controlled by Eritreans …" is what one would not expect from a person in high office and representing the European Union, as there was no such confusion and gap of information with regards to such critical matter of the control of the government of its own territory, it added.

The letter further pointed out that such a statement is by far an erroneous claim and at best a condescending view towards Ethiopia.

Ethiopia with a long history of statehood and as a sovereign country is capable of handling its affairs, it underlined.

"It would have been easier for the distinguished minister to take note of the facts on the ground that the Tigray operation is over on 28 November, whilst like in any conflict some remnants of TPLF leadership and militias out of the loop are out there and are being dealt with," Ambassador Hirut sated in the letter.