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Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the UN Security Council sanctions show Eritrea’s unlawful act in the region has caught international attention, and it is the beginning of the international community’s response to its destructive activities on peace and security in the horn of Africa.

During the press conference the Prime Minister held in his office with domestic journalists, he said these sanctions are just the beginning, as the measures are open and can be increased if Eritrea doesn’t comply with UN requirements. He also believes that the sanctions are reasonable and appropriate.

Meles said the sanctions includes Arms embargo and travel ban on Eritrean high military and political officials (the very people who are involved in the breach of the arms embargo imposed on Somalia). It also includes asset freeze in banks of UN member states, as well as remittance payments sent to Eritrea from foreign countries.

The Security Council passed the sanctions to defend Somalia (against Eritrea’s support of Al Shabab terrorists) and Djibouti (against breach of its border by Eritrea). It has nothing to do with the border problems with Ethiopia. Meles responded to this issue as it is in the interest of Ethiopia that these issues led to the sanctions. However, if Eritrea wants to destabilize Ethiopia, he said Ethiopia will take the appropriate measures and there is no need to pressure on this aspect.

Asked weather the ban on the free movement of Eritrean politicians would affect the diplomacy of the country, he replied “there is no such concern on the diplomatic front of the country as the country’s diplomacy is already questionable”.

Meles was also asked whether the sanction affects the Eritrean people significantly. He replied that the Eritrean people are under sanctions by their own government. “Nothing can be compared with the “open air prison” the government imposed on its own people. I believe the sanctions will affect more the dictator regime than the people.” (www.ezega.com)