- Title: ETHIOPIA: Meles fears unrest in Yemen will leave vacuum for Al Qaeda
- Date: 15th March 2011
- Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (MARCH 13, 2011) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) CONFERENCE ROOM JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MELES ZENAWI, PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA SAYING: "We are comfortable with the trade figures, we have done better than planned in the export sector, that among other things is reflected in the higher foreign exchange reserves of the national bank, significant and higher than planned." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MELES ZENAWI, PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA SAYING: "We are aware that there are powerful centrifugal forces in Yemen primarily in the south but also up in the North, and so if the current demonstrations are not managed well, could lead to an unwelcome political vacuum and possible state failure in Yemen. That would be a major security risk for all of us in the Horn of Africa." MORE OF JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MELES ZENAWI, PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA SAYING: "We are not worried that there will be a North Africa type of revolution in Ethiopia. It is simply not possible. It is simply not possible. The circumstances for it do not exist. That doesn't mean some people will not try. We know for sure that the Eritrean government has given instructions to its messenger boys to try. The Eritrean government has decided to turn Addis into Bagdad. That is their latest slogan." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS ASKING QUESTIONS
- Embargoed: 30th March 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ethiopia, Ethiopia
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA83AJ1SG7VXX7MYSDTAW6GAG08
- Story Text: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has projected Ethiopia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by seven percent in 2011, putting the nation in a lead position among the economies of East Africa.
He made the announcement at a news conference in Addis Ababa, saying the figures showed the government had done better than planned.
"We are comfortable with the trade figures, we have done better than planned in the export sector, that among other things is reflected in the higher foreign exchange reserves of the national bank, significant and higher than planned," he said.
Responding to questions from journalists about the state of political unrest sweeping North African countries, Meles said he was concerned particularly about Yemen, which is close to Ethiopia, with only the Gulf of Eden separating the two countries, and where thousands have taken to the streets to protest against the government.
"We are aware that there are powerful centrifugal forces in Yemen primarily in the south but also up in the North, and so if the current demonstrations are not managed well, could lead to an unwelcome political vacuum and possible state failure in Yemen. That would be a major security risk for all of us in the Horn of Africa," he said.
But despite concerns about Yemen, Meles dismissed suggestions that unrest could spread across the borders into Ethiopia, saying it was an "impossibility".
"We are not worried that there will be a North Africa type of revolution in Ethiopia. It is simply not possible. It is simply not possible. The circumstances for it do not exist. That doesn't mean some people will not try. We know for sure that the Eritrean government has given instructions to its messenger boys to try. The Eritrean government has decided to turn Addis into Bagdad. That is their latest slogan," he said.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have a long history of hostility after years of civil war followed by Eritrean independence in 2001.
Tensions have risen in the past few months with both countries accusing the other of stoking conflict and rebellion across their borders in connection with the unrest in the Arab world. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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