Our attention has been drawn to the lead story published in the Habarileo Newspaper issue number 02442 of Tuesday 27th August 2013 titled, "Kagame Apewa Ushauri Nasaha" following a Press Briefing hosted by the EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera on 27th August 2013 at the EAC Headquarters.
First, we would like to emphasize that this was a Press Briefing by the Secretary General to Local and Foreign Arusha-based Journalists on the ongoing 27th Council of Ministers' meeting taking place from 26th to 31st August 2013 at the EAC Headquarters.
During the Press Briefing, several questions were filed by the Journalists and were ably answered by the Secretary General. Indeed the coverage emanating from the Press Briefing is excellent, apart from the article carried by Habarileo Newspaper, and we would like to thank the Media most sincerely for the job well done.
By the same token, we regret the lies and distortion of facts by Habarileo of what the Secretary General said during the Press Briefing. At the Press Briefing, Habarileo was represented by Ms. Veronica Mheta who only
First, we would like to emphasize that this was a Press Briefing by the Secretary General to Local and Foreign Arusha-based Journalists on the ongoing 27th Council of Ministers' meeting taking place from 26th to 31st August 2013 at the EAC Headquarters.
During the Press Briefing, several questions were filed by the Journalists and were ably answered by the Secretary General. Indeed the coverage emanating from the Press Briefing is excellent, apart from the article carried by Habarileo Newspaper, and we would like to thank the Media most sincerely for the job well done.
By the same token, we regret the lies and distortion of facts by Habarileo of what the Secretary General said during the Press Briefing. At the Press Briefing, Habarileo was represented by Ms. Veronica Mheta who only
asked a question on how the EAC Partner States were fairing in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Ms. Veronica Mheta's reporting of what the Secretary General said and most of the statements attributed to him are false, malicious, irresponsible, misleading, and contemptible!
On the question of the current tension between Rwanda and Tanzania, the Secretary General said the East African Community will do all it can, including using diplomatic channels, to ensure the tension between the two EAC Partner States are resolved amicably. In addition, the disagreement while regrettable, will not lead to the breakup of the EAC. He said the two countries have significant cultural and trade relationships. Tanzania and Rwanda continue to work together to advance the work of the Community including a recent Ministerial meeting in Rwanda which Tanzania attended and also the ongoing Council of Ministers meeting this week in Arusha in which all the Partner States including Rwanda is present!
The Secretary General informed the Journalists that there were two major categories of insecurity threats in the region. The first one is the genocidal forces which committed the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 and are still active in the region. The other negative and terrorist forces include the LRA, ADF, Alshabab that pose a threat to the region. Each of these groups needs to be handled appropriately.
On the recent expulsion of illegal immigrants from Kagera Region, the Secretary General said this was within Tanzania's legal rights. But this was not good for the spirit of East African cooperation and integration. He looks forward to a time when East Africans will not be considered illegal immigrants or refugees in East Africa.
The Editor of Habarileo should have at least taken keen interest in verifying with the Corporate Communications Department before publishing such weighty statements.
The Secretariat therefore takes this opportunity to demand that Habarileo Newspaper retracts this badly written article and apologize to the East African people for irresponsible reporting.
We further request Habarileo to publish this clarification in its next issue for the benefit of its esteemed readers. We trust that we shall not be compelled to take further measures in the defense of the East African integration.
Owora Richard Othieno
Chief Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department,
EAC Secretariat,
Arusha, Tanzania.
On the question of the current tension between Rwanda and Tanzania, the Secretary General said the East African Community will do all it can, including using diplomatic channels, to ensure the tension between the two EAC Partner States are resolved amicably. In addition, the disagreement while regrettable, will not lead to the breakup of the EAC. He said the two countries have significant cultural and trade relationships. Tanzania and Rwanda continue to work together to advance the work of the Community including a recent Ministerial meeting in Rwanda which Tanzania attended and also the ongoing Council of Ministers meeting this week in Arusha in which all the Partner States including Rwanda is present!
The Secretary General informed the Journalists that there were two major categories of insecurity threats in the region. The first one is the genocidal forces which committed the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 and are still active in the region. The other negative and terrorist forces include the LRA, ADF, Alshabab that pose a threat to the region. Each of these groups needs to be handled appropriately.
On the recent expulsion of illegal immigrants from Kagera Region, the Secretary General said this was within Tanzania's legal rights. But this was not good for the spirit of East African cooperation and integration. He looks forward to a time when East Africans will not be considered illegal immigrants or refugees in East Africa.
The Editor of Habarileo should have at least taken keen interest in verifying with the Corporate Communications Department before publishing such weighty statements.
The Secretariat therefore takes this opportunity to demand that Habarileo Newspaper retracts this badly written article and apologize to the East African people for irresponsible reporting.
We further request Habarileo to publish this clarification in its next issue for the benefit of its esteemed readers. We trust that we shall not be compelled to take further measures in the defense of the East African integration.
Owora Richard Othieno
Chief Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department,
EAC Secretariat,
Arusha, Tanzania.
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