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19 January 2007
Addis Ababa, January 18, 2007 (Addis Ababa) - The victory over the extremist group in Somalia was the result of the ongoing reform program within the national defense forces, the Ministry of Defense said.
Speaking at a press conference held here on Thursday, Minister of Defense Kuma Demeksa said the victory Ethiopia gained over the extremist forces in Somalia will revitalize the spirit of the people to rally behind the national defense forces.
Kuma said the victory would also strengthen and unify the people to rally against poverty and to continue with the already launched peace, development and democratization process.
Kuma said Ethiopia’s security had been threatened by extremists in the Union of Islamic Forces (UIC), which was created by the Eritrean government, as well as other anti-peace forces, that sought to hold back the peace and development of the nation.
The government and people of Ethiopia, farsighted as they were, have tried to resolve the problem through peaceful means, Kuma said, adding after extended patience however the country was forced to take defensive measures.
The Ethiopian defense forces and that of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) came out victorious through sacrifices, he said.
The defense forces deserve admiration for crushing the extremist group and safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation from invaders and internal anti-peace forces, the minister said.
The defense forces came out victorious because the war was carried out in self defense, with sufficient preparation, strong military discipline, and with full public support, according to the minister.
Apart from defending the nation’s sovereignty, the war against the terrorist forces was meant to ensure peace and security, and not to invade Somalia.
The ministry has built a dependable and strong army through the ongoing reform program, Kuma said.
Ethiopia would continue to carry out its mission and withdraw from Somalia in a bid to bring about sustainable peace in that country, he said.
Since the war in Somalia is over, it is now time to focus on the already started reform program within the national defense forces, the minister said.
, Ethiopia has no history of interfering in the affairs of neighboring states.
Asked to comment on the questions of legitimacy in Ethiopia’s intervention in Somalia, Kuma said undermining the capacity of the terrorists was totally unacceptable since they were heavily equipped and had rallied thousands foreign forces behind them.
Kuma said the extremist group had an ambition of even advancing towards Addis Ababa with the support of the Eritrean government and international terrorist.
He said the Ethiopian government is working with the TFG and exerting diplomatic efforts for the quick deployment of AU Peacekeeping Mission since the Ethiopian defense forces will not stay in Somalia.
Defense Chief of Staff, Lieut. General Samora Yenus told journalist on the occasion that the national defense forces have carried out intensive preparation before going to the war in Somalia.
Lieut. General Samora said the defense forces have been addressing fundamental issues with a view to ensuring transparency and revitalize the strong spirit within the defense forces, make thorough assessment and clear out confusions about the war.
Lieut. General Samora said the defense forces have been working with the TFG by training its military personnel, recruiting soldiers, and building its capacity.
The Ethiopian defense forces and the forces of the TFG have prepared good operational plan that enabled not only to achieve victory but also avoid civilian casualty as much as possible, Lieut. General Samora said.
He added that the war was conducted with strong rules of engagement.
Asked about the capabilities of UIC, Lieut. General Samora said it would have been wrong to undermine the UIC as it had the support of the Eritrean government, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), Al-Itihad as well as experienced international terrorists, who come from Afghanistan, Iraq or Lebanon.
Hence, Lieut. General Samora said the victory the Ethiopian defense forces and that of the TFG have gained was not because of the weakness of the terrorist group.
Source: ENA