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| Posted By: kiki Posted On: Jan 22, 2004 Views: 429 | info When you look forward, you dont look backwards. Fayza Aboulnaga, Egypts Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ethiopias relations with Egypt are on the upswing now following the high-level visit led by Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin to Cairo and their reception there. There is also the gradually improving state of the negotiations on the waters of Nile under the framework of the Nile Basin Initiative and Ethiopias buoyant hopes in that regard. But what about the problems in the past? Zerihun Taddesse discussed these with Mrs. Fayza Aboulnaga, Egypts Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Excerpts: What does Ethiopia mean to Egypt? Ethiopia means a lot to Egypt. I think you will understand that if you actually think of both countries bound eternally by a great river, the Nile. And I always like to use a quotation, from what Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said, that Egypt and Ethiopia have an umbilical cord, which is the river Nile. So this shows you how much Ethiopia means to Egypt and how much Egypt means to Ethiopia. And Im very happy to see that our relationship is moving towards a new era of mutual understanding, mutual confidence and trust and also mutual political will to forge a direction for cooperation between the two countries at every level and in every field. As a matter of fact, I have during my stay here in Addis Ababa had the pleasure of meeting with many senior government officials who expressed a positive message, reiterating the political will of Ethiopia to forge a positive relationship with Egypt based on mutual interest, mutual cooperation, mutual understanding at the highest level. The recent visit of Foreign Minister Seyoum who met with Foreign Minister Maher and was also received by President Mubarak with the message from Prime Minister Meles reflects Ethiopias willingness to forge good relations with Egypt, which was reciprocated by President Mubarak reiterating Egypts willingness and also the political will to go that far. You talked about the mutual understanding and cooperation that is being developed now. What about the misunderstandings, the problems of the past? What were these? When you look forward, you dont look backwards. And we are looking forward now. We are looking to the present and the future. The past is behind us. Whatever misunderstandings, doubts and suspicions, they are all behind us now. And what we are now is really determined to work together for is to achieve common results, concrete results that would actually also make it clear to the population of both sides that there is every interest for both countries to work together and join hands. As a matter of fact, there is a lot in Egypt that we can offer Ethiopia and theres a lot in Ethiopia that could be offered to Egypt. So you will not be following the line which is described by many as a consistent effort to destabilize Ethiopia? For instance, during the Ethiopia-Eritrean war you were said to be supporting Eritrea. These are absolutely groundless allegations. And Im very happy that the government of Ethiopia at the highest level is really putting this behind because this has never been the case. How can it be groundless where theres ample evidence ? Im explaining it to you. What evidence? Like the mines used by the Eritreans which were made in Egypt? But that is no evidence at all because this has never been the case. These were actually false allegations as well, and we have made that very clear at that particular time when this was actually voiced. Egypt not only as far as Ethiopia is concerned but in all of its history has never worked to destabilize any of its immediate neighbors or countries in the larger neighborhood. That is not our policy. Thats not the way we deal and handle our international relations or our regional relations. Egypt as a great nation not only in Africa but also the Middle East and on the international stage has always played a positive role. For instance, we are very instrumental in the creation and strengthening of the Nile Basin Initiative. This is so even if most of the projects proposed under this framework are that of Sudan, Ethiopia and the other riparian countries. We have come forward with the least projects actually within the framework of the Nile Basin InitiaLet us talk about, for instance, your behavior towards the peace process in Somalia. You have been accused of undoing what Ethiopia had done in Sodere. But that is a very wrong way to look at things because if you talk about this there can be actually, you know, someone else who would say or file the same accusations as far as Ethiopia is concerned, and as far as Djibouti is concerned. On Somalia, Egypts position has been very clear and weve always been very direct with our friends in Ethiopia in making clear the position of Egypt. Our interest in Somalia is that we would like to see Somalia as a unified country that actually is led by the Somalis. The destiny of Somalia is actually in the hands of the Somali people. And we do believe that this is in the interest of Ethiopia. It is in the interest of Ethiopia to have a stable neighbor, a stable Somalia. And this is what our colleagues in the Ethiopian government have reaffirmed to us all along. tive. So why are you supporting Aideed? Djibouti supporting someone else? Kenya supporting some one? That is the wrong way of dealing with the situation. As a matter of fact, its probably by the press propagating allegations like that and creating unnecessary misunderstandings between the countries themselves that lets the problems persist and get complicated But happily enough, we have overcome this together. Egypt and Ethiopia, the Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya, together we have overcome this. And now were all going in the same direction and we have realized that it is in no mans interest to have Somalia as a failed state in the Horn of Africa. So we do have historical relations with Somalia. As far as Egypt is concerned, we do actually realize also the interest of Ethiopia in Somalia as a neighbor, and whatever happens in Somalia impacts positively or negatively on Ethiopia. And that is the premises from which we conduct ourselves that because this is an immediate neighbor of Ethiopia it is important your immediate neighbor enjoys stability. This is and prosperity because if you have a neighbor that actually is in a civil war and not enjoying stability and prosperity, it will definitely negatively impact on you. So we all, Egypt, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, the Sudan, all of us, we do have a common interest in having a stable, peaceful, prosperous, sovereign Somalia. Were not supporting Aideed. We are supporting Somalis, were supporting Somalia as a unified country. So its not a matter of I think it is the way youre looking at that creates problems because I mean youre looking into why this is supporting Aideed? why Ethiopia is supporting I dont know who? and What about the Sudan? You are there also said to be acting on the part of the opposition I dont know where you get your mistaken information, really. A good reporter, a good journalist will have to get his facts straight. So I hope you will actually exert some more effort in really getting the facts of the situation. Egypt has been all along, as a matter of fact, if you have read a lot about, you know, the role of Egypt in the Sudan - Sudan is as important to Egypt as Somalia is important to Ethiopia. And I want you to know that Egypt is the only country, the only country that actually maintains relations with all parties in the Sudan because we know exactly what is needed in the Sudan and we have a perfect cooperation and consult regularly with the Sudan at the highest level and at every other level. So, do not actually attempt to put those kinds of misunderstandings and allegations in the Egyptian-Sudanese relation. That is absolutely false and that is not true. So right now Egypt is very supportive of the peace process because all along our position was that we will, never accept a situation that would lead to the separation of southern Sudan. We are in regular discussion with the Sudanese government and, with its permission, with the opposition parties. What we want is for the Sudan to be peaceful, stable and for the population including those in the South to be able to exploit and use the resources in the country. And the citizenship rights will be enjoyed by every Sudanese citizen. That is the position of Egypt and we actually work in close, very close cooperation with the Sudanese government. So Egypt is playing a unique role in bringing the Sudanese parties together and in making sure that Sudan will always enjoy its unity, its territorial integrity and peace and prosperity. You described Egypt as one of the great nations in Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world By history and geograpy Yes, politically also. You are also involved in the peace processes of Somalia and Sudan, but what about the interstate conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea? We also adopted the same policy because, you know, we know the impact and the repercussions and the implications, the serious implications and the sufferings of war and conflicts. Dont forget that we have been actually to five wars and we know exactly what it takes. And we have paid the highest of prices in terms of material, of human lives. So we know exactly what conflicts can bring to populations. And we have been pioneering in actually paving the way and in giving the example of going the road of peace through negotiations and through dialogue with what we have done with Israel, and I hope you know the history of that. So weve been pioneering in this direction, and thats why we always maintain that negotiations are the way to go in any conflict, especially when it is a conflict between brothers such as Ethiopia and Eritrea or the Sudanese conflict or another conflict in Africa. Our position is that the only way to solve conflicts of these nature is through dialogue and negotiations. So on the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, this has always been and continues to be our position. What have you done in concrete terms? It is important to maintain good relations with both parties if you want to really play a role in trying to bring them together. And Egypt is also doing that in talking to the Eritreans. There we are trying to actually convince them that this is the best way of solving these kinds of problems. This is because after all they are one and the same people. The fact that Eritrea became independent does not negate the fact that the roots and the origins of the peoples are the same. We are also doing the same thing with our Ethiopian friends. We always, and will continue to, promote the path of negotiations and peace. And we are confident that this will be the result of this process. We are confident in the wisdom of the Ethiopian government and the Ethiopian leadership, and we are confident also that the Eritrean government will find that this is the only way to achieve prosperity and stability for their population and for the region as a whole. Has it occurred to President Hosni Mubarak, who enjoys good relationships with both President Isaias and Prime Minister Meles, to use his good offices to bring these together? This is what President Mubarak has been doing for a long time, and every time he meets with President Afeworki and Prime Minister Zenawi either personally or through communication or through envoys, this has been always the message. And President Mubarak is playing that role because he is in a position given his stature, his expertise and his experience with peace processes to play that role which he is. Has it borne any fruit? Well, I think it is bearing fruits, and we hope that in the near future we will get this conflict also behind us. Insha Allah. |