Mekelle: 22 April 2024 (Tigray Herald)
Weekly press release from Salsay Weyane Tigray
Salsay Weyane Tigray on Recent Statement by Embassies
Salsay Weyane Tigray welcomes the recent statement by the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States concerning the situation in Tigray. We particularly appreciate their call for a peaceful implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and their ongoing support for regional peace and stability.
However, we believe the statement’s use of the term “contested areas of Northern Ethiopia” mischaracterizes the situation. These constitutionally recognized Tigray territories are currently occupied as a result of the Tigray War and are not under legitimate dispute.
In this regard, we urge the embassies to emphasize, as outlined in the Pretoria Agreement, the necessity of withdrawing occupying forces. This withdrawal is a crucial first step towards a lasting solution based on dialogue and adherence to the Ethiopian Constitution.
Furthermore, the statement’s use of “Northern Ethiopia” appears to be a deliberate avoidance of acknowledging the “Tigray War.” This obfuscation risks downplaying the severity of the conflict and the possible international crimes committed during it.
We, therefore, call upon the embassies to adopt more precise language that aligns with the Ethiopian Constitution and avoids emboldening perpetrators of these crimes.
April 22, 2024
Salsay Weyane Tigray
Mekelle, Tigray
