Ethiopian President: No intention to occupy lands from Eritrea

The Ethiopian daily Ethiopian Herald on Thursday quoted Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada as saying that Addis Ababa is determined to "restore back the occupied Ethiopian territories and ensure its sovereignty."

The Ethiopian President added, "This is the objective of the Ethiopian attacks on Eritrea," saying that, "It is not our intention to occupy lands from Eritrea," as stated by the President of Eritrea Assyas Afworki.

The Ethiopian president added, "If Ethiopia had such an intention it would not have supported the self-determination referendum held in 1993 that resulted in approving the separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia."