Adoulis
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, has announced increasing on the defense budget of his country by 16.7% in case of resumption of war with Eritrea on the background of the border dispute between the two countries, explaining at the same time that his country gives priority to the peaceful solution. He added that the military budget has been increased by 16.7% to become a $ 3.5 billion, an increase of 54.3 million dollars or about 1.7% of the total budget for Ethiopia, which amounts to 22 billion dollars.
He pointed out that Eritrea has repeatedly refused invitations for negotiation and threatened to resume comprehensive war, "Therefore we have built our military capacities," he added.
Zenawi warned the Eritrean government against any attempt of new invasion saying that would lead to the collapse of the Eritrean government. He also added that the Eritrean government knows the magnitude of the Ethiopian military capabilities.
He went on saying that Eritrea is struggling to achieve its ruining objectives through arming of the Oromo Liberation Front, the National Front for the Liberation of Ogadin, Al-Etihad and other groups working to escalate the crisis in Somalia.
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