Ethiopia accuses Lebanon about Ethiopian Airlines crash investigation process

Ethiopia accuses Lebanon of using plane crash incident for “politics”
Written by Administrator
Thursday, 25 February 2010 08:05
Addis Ababa - Ethiopia on Wednesday accused Lebanon of using the last month’s plane crash investigation process for “politics”.






The Ethiopian Minister of Transport Diriba Kuma told journalists in Addis Ababa that the Lebanese government was giving unreliable information to the media regarding the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on 25 January 2010 after take off from Beirut where the 90 people on board including 24 Ethiopians, died.



Kuma urged the Lebanese authorities to stop giving such “unreliable” information to the media regarding the plane crash investigation process.



“Though the investigation process is still underway, but the Lebanese officials continue to give unreliable and contradictory reports to the media,” said Kuma.



He indicated that Ethiopia had asked the president of the International Civil Aviation Organization and its secretary to intervene in these affairs.



According to him, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with its partners continues to counter media statements being made by the Lebanese officials.



“The organization promises to interfere in the matter and normalize the current situation,” said Kuma.



There are media reports from Beirut saying that the preliminary investigation is showing that the plane crash was by “pilot error”.



However, Kuma told journalists that the preliminary investigation is not yet made public, and it is expected to be released soon.



He also indicated that there was an incident during the investigation process where the Lebanese officials were involved in hiding, and not to include useful information for the investigation process.



“Ethiopia strongly opposes the on going move by Lebanon to use the investigation process for political affairs,” added Kuma.



There is as yet no reaction from the Lebanese authorities on the comments made by the Ethiopian government.