Ukraine Condemns Eritrea for visiting Crimea

During their working visit to Russia, the Eritrean delegation led by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh visited South Ossetia, Crimea and Abkhazia (without the FM and Yemane Gebreab) at the invitation of the Russian Federation.  Photo: Eritrean delegation in South Ossetia  

Ukraine Condemns Eritrea for visiting Crimea

Yesterday, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press statement protesting the visit of senior Eritrean officials to Crimea which came at the invitation of the Russian Federation. The statement said:

MFA expresses its strong protest to Eritrean side over not approved by Ukraine visit on June 5-6, 2014 of Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea Osman Mohammed Saleh to the temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Ukraine considers that visit as an unfriendly step, blatant disregard of international law by Eritrean side as well as a flagrant violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and domestic law, of the UN Charter and the UN General Assembly resolution "Territorial integrity of Ukraine" adopted on March 27, 2014, that may have deeply negative effect on further development of Ukrainian - Eritrean relations.

We call on the Eritrean side to respect strictly the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and to comply with the international law.

The irony here is it's Ukraine that seems to be uncomfortable with respecting international law. For many years, successive Kiev administrations have disrespected Eritrea's sovereignty and territorial integrity by supporting the belligerent regime in Ethiopia and turning a blind eye to its occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories.

More concerning, it was Ukraine who sold 200 T-72 tanks worth over US$100 million in one of the largest contracts signed by the country's arms exporter in more than 15 years. This contract was delivered despite extensive protest by the Eritrean Government, and with the knowledge of these weapons were likely going to be used against the Eritrean people.

So it's long overdue that Ukraine looks itself in the mirror when feeling the need to lecture nations about the virtues of adhering to international law.

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