Letter to the Editor of Politico Europe
Re: A response to the opinion published on the politico Europe on August 02, 2021, by Baroness Arminka Helič on Ethiopia.
The opinion piece that was featured on the Politico on August 02, 2021, titled ¨ In Ethiopia, echoes of Yugoslavia¨ by Baroness Arminka Helič is factually and conceptually incorrect and a misconstrued parallel.
The writer in her attempt to draw a parallel with Yugoslavia has failed to understand the socio-political, historical, and cultural contexts of the country and its people. To begin with, Ethiopia and its people are known for their cultural and religious tolerance and lived in harmony for many centuries. There exists no enmity among the people of Ethiopia. Therefore, comparing the current situation in Ethiopia with the Balkans is a complete malposition.
The writer also, without properly understanding the nuances of the official Ethiopian language and statements made by our leaders with regard to TPLF, misinterpreted the description labelled at the TPLF clique as made on our compatriots in Tigray. Unless the writer intentionally tries to hoodwink the international community with an attempt to draw unwarranted interventions through disinformation and outrageous ideas, no Ethiopian official has incited ill intentions against its own people as what the writer laboured to portray.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), that provoked the conflict back in November 2020 by attacking the national defense bases in Tigray region, is now labelled as terrorist group by the Ethiopian Parliament. The TPLF leaders who caused and led the conflict in Ethiopia must be brought to justice for their act of war. No country would sit frivolously by while an attack is committed from any corner.
As to the situation in Tigray region, the Ethiopian Government, with the aim of resolving the problem in the region, has enacted a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire. The TPLF clique rejecting this peaceful gesture, rather has opted to aggravate the situation by continuing fighting. The writer’s adoration of the TPLF’s destabilizing character through expanding the conflict to neighbouring provinces demonstrates nothing but her intention of trying to justify the act of the TPLF as legitimate one and more so directed to unjustifiably impose sanctions on Ethiopia.
The Embassy of Ethiopia not only rejects the erroneous opinion by the writer but also would like to request her as a respected official of a reputed country to act in a responsible manner instead of sensationally drawing comparison between incomparable for the benefit of maliciously calling for an unwarranted action.
Source: Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels