Djibouti says it will recover its territory occupied by Eritrea
Tigrai Online
Jan. 03 2009
(Djibouti) The Djiboutian President, Ismail Omar Guelleh delivering his New Year speech on Thursday, referred to the border conflict with Eritrea since 2008.
He criticized Eritrea for its destabilizing role in the region of the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia.
“If we are still smarting from the inexplicable Eritrean attack in 2008, through the illegal occupation of a part of our national territory, all the diplomatic efforts we made in 2009 driven by our unshakable faith in the fairness of our stand, the sincerity of our actions and our attachment to the inviolable principles of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, proved to be successful,” he said.
According to President Guelleh, “Djibouti will never be held hostage by anyone ; neither will it be involved in a conflict which knowingly aims at undermining our socio-economic development, mortgaging the promising future of our country.”
“It is clear that Eritrea is keen on jeopardizing the Somali peace process by arming Somali fundamentalist groups,” said President Guelleh.
According to him, Eritrea is “sadly known for waging war against its neighbors in one moment or another, on the basis of false territorial claims.”
This hawkish and destructive attitude, he said, shows an implacable will of the Asmara government to cause unrest in the region and thus to kill off our peoples’ hopes for peace.
According to him, Djibouti has chosen a policy of appeasement and caution since the very beginning of the conflict against Eritrea. “We tirelessly pursued a peaceful and diplomatic solution.”
“Today, thanks to this accountable, regular and active diplomacy, the voice of our nation was heard, our cause supported. And through UN Resolution 1907 adopted on 23 December almost unanimously by the Security Council, it is a wrong that has been redressed, an injustice avenged and the memory of our gallant soldiers honored,” he said.
He called on the UN Security Council to enforce all the sanctions provided by the resolution.
The Djiboutian head of state swore to his counterparts that he will do everything possible to recover the whole territory “illegally occupied by Eritrea” and to set free all Djiboutian soldiers held prisoners in that country.
Source Qaranews