by Beleho Yashak, May 17, 2000

Where are the Greens heading? The Ethio-Eritrean conflict is on its way of becoming an issue to be debated on in Germany. Finally the German public will clearly understand the crisis in the horn as hopefully experienced German politicians will be debating over the issue and the Greens no longer will determine alone the German policy towards Ethiopia.

That the relationship between Germany and Ethiopia would deteriorate was a matter of time and what people with deeper insight into the Ethio-Eritrean conflict had predicted and which was not only a speculation. There is a hint in your article: "Others speculate that the unfriendly position of the German government was caused more by the undue influence exercised by personalities in positions of authority that have had a history of close ties with the Eritrean leadership."

After the take-over of the German Government by the SPD-Green-Coalition it was obvious that the Greens would take side and favour the Eritrean side because of the romantic attitude the Greens had regarding the "Eritrean Revolution". The present tension between the German Government and the Ethiopian Government is a result of the false policy applied by the Greens and which will inevitably have consequences within the present coalition. The German Foreign Minister, Joshka Fischer, I hope will develop a more realistic attitude towards Ethiopia which according to the findings of the OAU has been a victim of Eritrean aggression.

Instead of pressurizing the Eritrean leadership to pull out from the disputed territories the Greens are indirectly using the hunger situation to force Ethiopia accept the loss of territories occupied by Eritrea, a country which has quarrelled with all her neighbours since independence.

It should be known that we Ethiopians expect from Germany not only that the aggression be condemned, but also to help share their experience in the unification of their country. We do not insist that Eritrea joins Ethiopia, but we do insist that it is the duty of the international community as well as the Governments of both countries to lay down the frameworks that the peoples in Ethiopia and Eritrea, which have common heritage and historical roots, live peacefully.

The position of Germany is sound in trying to force Ethiopia to concentrate the efforts saving lives and spend less money for the military build up. Any person would accept this argument.

But remember what happened to Ethiopia which has agreed to Eritrean independence and which has demobilized her army? The answer from Eritrea, which in the past 9 years has completely changed Eritrea into a military garrison and barracks, was aggression and forceful occupation of Ethiopian territories, which they never claimed when Eritrea became independent.

Let it be known that Ethiopia after agreeing to the independence of Eritrea, after being landlocked after the closure of the Assab port and after being attacked by Eritrea will not be a playground by politicians that have proved to be inefficient when the crisis was floating over the two countries and also after the conflict erupted.

What is the position of the Greens regarding the aggression? Do the Greens believe that Ethiopia attacked Eritrea or is it vice-versa? We understand that the horn-region is now under the influence of the only super power left, USA, and Europe has only been an observant of the conflict. Where are the Greens heading?

By hampering the efforts to save lives in Ethiopia they are indirectly trying to support the Eritrean aggression. The Eritrean equation of occupying territories and getting back to normal relationship with Ethiopia had been a miscalculation. The preparation for war and for keeping small territories claimed by Eritrea has devastated the Eritrean economy. Also Ethiopia besides establishing a new army it is suffering from the closure of the Assab port through which large amount of goods came to Ethiopia.

The legal aspect is so clear that the Greens refrained from taking side with the victim, which is still Ethiopia and thus avoiding disharmony with their protégé.

There was an assumption by admirers and supporters that once Eritrea became independent would become the Malaysia or Hong Kong of the Horn. This vision had become part of Eritrean identity. From the start the Eritrean leadership was not committed to its vision but was engaged in militarising the whole society and pretending to be a power able to intervene in neighbouring countries and solving conflicts in the interest of foreign powers. Eritrea has been boasting as being able to overthrow the Sudanese Government. Until it was reopened lately the Eritrean leadership had closed the Sudanese Embassy and given it over to the opposition.

Eritrea, a newly independent nation has been the most belligerent country in the horn having conflicts with literally all surrounding countries. Remember the skirmishes over islands claimed by Eritrea in the Red Sea until the International Court forced Eritrea to hand the islands over to Yemen. Remember also the border dispute with Djibouti. Sudan, Yemen, Djibouti and now Ethiopia are countries which have been threatened by independent but belligerent Eritrea.

We do not believe that favouring Eritrea will have any effect in convincing the Eritrean leadership to pull out their troops from occupied Ethiopian territories nor will it change Ethiopia's determination to fight until the territories held by force have been recaptured.

Sooner or later the Greens must and will be stopped by the SPD and the opposition if the present hostile policy towards Ethiopia is to be implemented which will lead to a deterioration of the positive relationship in many sectors between Ethiopia and Germany. We hope that these ties will not be affected.

Before the relationship between Ethiopia and Germany deteriorate to a point of no return the Greens should reconsider their position and answer the following questions and consider the suggestions below which will help develop a more realistic approach to the Ethio-Eritrean conflict:

How do the Greens see the fact that Eritrea has occupied Ethiopian territories or do they say that Eritrea is not claiming or has not occupied and territories, which did not belong to Eritrea? How do they see the findings of the OAU?

We Ethiopians would like to see Eritrea industrialize and that they at least try to take measures which could help their vision of becoming the Malaysia of Africa partially true. What have the Greens done to divert the Eritrean leadership from its military ambitions and mercenary attitude to economic development?

Do the Greens think that the attachment of the German people to Ethiopia, a country which has inspired suppressed peoples all over the world to fight against colonial domination, is not strong enough and will be manipulated by the new hostile policy when it's people are facing a crisis which is caused by nature?

There is a German saying "when you point your finger to a person at least three fingers points to you". Have the Greens abolished the German military with its huge expenditures? No. If all military expenditures were used for social progress this world would be a place in which no one should die from hunger. In the case of the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia the answer is: tell and force Eritrea to get out of the occupied territories and avert a full-scale war, which anytime can break out.

The key to the solution of the Ethio-Eritrean conflict are only legal actions which both nations must diplomatically be forced to take. The Greens in this stage can play an important role by achieving legality and helping and convincing Eritrea to give up its military aspirations and focussing on economic activities to fight poverty.