NAIROBI (Reuters) – Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has rejected any effort to mediate a border dispute with Ethiopia’s tribalist regime led by Meles Zenawi (Woyanne), calling it a “wicked ploy”, state media said on Saturday.
Last week, Ethiopia’s dictator Meles said he supported efforts by Libyan leader and new African Union chairman Muammar Gaddafi to arbitrate between Addis Ababa and Asmara, but doubted the maneuver would be successful.
“The political and diplomatic campaigns undertaken by (Woyanne) … are but wicked ploys designed to appease the Eritrean people and international community,” state media quoted Isaias as saying.
“He further underlined that as long as sovereign Eritrean territories remain under occupation, engaging in dialogue about any issue is totally illogical,” it said on the government website, www.shabait.com.
A 2002 border decision gave the flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea, but Ethiopia Woyanne initially rejected it. Addis Ababa Woyanne has since said it wants more talks.
Eritrea is also involved in a border dispute with Djibouti. The two sides clashed last year and tensions have remained high.