Ethiopia accuses Norway of undermining security

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 28 (Reuters) Ethiopia accused Norway on Wednesday of undermining its national security and spreading instability in the Horn of Africa, a day after the Addis Ababa government asked Oslo to recall six diplomats.

''Norway has consistently and repeatedly (been) involved in acquiring leverage with the focus of causing instability in the Horn of Africa region,'' said Wahide Belay, spokesman for Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry.

''This, in turn, has seriously aggravated problems of stability in the Horn of Africa region and also threatened to undermine Ethiopia's national security. ... It has now become clear that there has been no change of policy in this regard.'' Late yesterday, Norway's foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Stoere, said in a statement that his government regretted the ''unilateral decision'' taken by the authorities in Addis Ababa.

''We must now take the consequences of the fact that the Ethiopian authorities are upholding their decision and we are therefore making preparations to withdraw six diplomats from our embassy in Addis Ababa (by September. 15),'' Stoere said.

Stoere did not say whether Ethiopia provided any background on the reasons for the expulsions.

Stoere said the ''sharp reduction in staffing'' meant Norway might not be able to maintain development cooperation with Ethiopia at current levels, he said. Oil-rich Norway is one of the world's biggest aid donors in per capita terms.

Wahide said Ethiopia's government remained ready to talk.

''Our efforts have been and still are to engage Norway's government in serious dialogue over the matter,'' Wahide said.

REUTERS LPB PM1731