1.
GV EXTERIOR: Ethiopian embassy in Nairobi.(silent)
0.05

2.
CU: The Ethiopia ambassador, Ato Mengiste Desta, reading statement in English. (2 shots)
2.25


DESTA: "Total support of the reactionary Arab regime, Somalia has joined the Arab League. At the same time she sought the assistance of the Socialist countries by pretending to be a Socialist state. When this did not serve Somalia's illegal purpose, the Mogadishu rulers switched their allegiance to the West, and the annoyance of the Socialist countries which they had praised before as their natural allies. Somalia has thus never had a principled stand. They've simply pursued a policy of political prostitution, with a vain attempt to snatch away the territories of her neighbours. Ethiopia has repeatedly stated that she respects the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity Charter principles, particularly the respect for territorial integrity and inviolability of state boundaries. Faithful to these principles Ethiopia, while ignominiously defeating the invading Somalia army, has not crossed the Somalia border. Unfortunately the other side continues of defy these internationally accepted principles. The Mogadishu rulers, unable to learn the lesson from their humiliating defeat administered by the valiant Ethiopian revolutionary armed forces, have announced once again that they have not abandoned their expansionist policies and that they will continue to support so-called quote, unquote, liberation movements.....which are fictitious anyway. Under the circumstances we are compelled to issue a strong warning to the reactionary Mogadishu ruling class, its imperialist and reactionary Arab allies, that should Ethiopia be attacked again, in one form or another, I repeat, that should Ethiopia be attacked again in one form or another, this time the battle will not be fought within Ethiopian borders."




Initials RH/2230



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Ethiopia has threatened to carry the Horn of Africa war across Somalia's frontier, if Somali support for guerrillas in the Ogaden Desert, leads to what they term as "further provocation". In Nairobi, the Ethiopian ambassador to Kenya, Mr Mengiste Desta, said on Friday (14 April) that should Ethiopia be attacked again it would strike back across the Somali border. Mr Desta said there was no earthly or heavenly law that Somalia's border should sacrosanct and Ethiopia's not.

SYNOPSIS: Mr Desta read his statement to newsmen at the Ethiopian embassy in Nairobi.