UN Secretary-General writes to Prime Minister Meles and President Issayas
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia)
Novc 30, 2007
Recent pronouncements from Asmara have continued to make it clear that Eritrea is more interested in a boundary dispute than any valid demarcation process that could ensure sustainable peace. Eritrea has placed numerous obstacles in the way of a valid process of demarcation that should include extensive fieldwork and assessment of facts on the ground. It has also taken measures that constitute material breaches of the Algiers Agreements. These fundamental violations should be reversed for a valid process of demarcation to proceed as required under international law. Valid demarcation would involve discussions and consultations between the parties directly or through a third party. Ethiopia will not allow any demarcation that will perpetuate rather than completely resolve the boundary and other disputes. Ethiopia has made it clear that it is committed to a demarcation process that will ensure sustainable peace consistent with the objectives and aims of the Algiers Agreements and with international law and practice. It is now up to Ethiopia and Eritrea to heed the calls made by the Secretary General in his report of November 2007, and the Presidential Statement of Security Council earlier this month, to discharge their primary responsibility to resolve their disputes peacefully in accordance with the Algiers Agreements and international law and to accept third party facilitation, and in particular initiatives by the Secretary General.
On Thursday, the UN Secretary-General wrote to both Prime Minister Meles and President Issayas Aferwerki, in advance of the conclusion of the mandate of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission on December 1st. The Secretary-General said he welcomed the repeated acceptance without precondition by both Ethiopia and Eritrea of the final and binding delimitation decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC). He noted that this had been reiterated in recent letters to him and to the EEBC. He went on to say that non-implementation of the decision, “as well as the erosion of other aspects of the two Agreements signed in Algiers in 2000”, continue to undermine the prospects for a lasting peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea. He pointed out that the Security Council has urged the parties to take concrete steps towards implementation of the demarcation decision and to comply fully with the Algiers Agreements. He said that the Security Council had also indicated its strong support for any steps that he might take, and he was pleased to note that both Ethiopia and Eritrea had expressed their readiness to work with him. He therefore wished to inform both parties that he would be sending Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs next week “to discuss with you ways to begin the demarcation process in accordance with the Algiers Agreements”. The Secretary-General said that on Mr. Pascoe’s return he would report to the Security Council on “any progress made by the parties in the implementation of their commitments under the Algiers Agreements”.
This letter followed letters sent to him by Prime Minister Meles and President Issayas. Prime Minister Meles’ letter, dated November 23rd. pointed out that it was the Government of Eritrea that was responsible for the latest tension about the border. It was Eritrea which had occupied the Temporary Security Zone and refused the requests of both the Secretary-General and the Security Council to withdraw its forces. Eritrea had also refused to lift the restrictions on UNMEE. It was in fact Eritrea that was in violation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, not Ethiopia. The Prime Minister noted that the Boundary Commission had decided in September that the continuation of its activities served no useful purpose. He said that Ethiopia fully agreed with this decision. He thought this might offer an opportunity to break the current deadlock. The Prime Minister said that Ethiopia and Eritrea had the primary responsibility for resolving the border issue and moving the demarcation process forward. He said he fully supported the efforts of the Secretary-General to be a bridge between Ethiopia and Eritrea and that Ethiopia would give its support to the appointment of a Special Representative. He stressed that Ethiopia remained totally committed to the full implementation of the Algiers Agreements, and indeed counted on the help and involvement of the Secretary-General to achieve a lasting and sustainable peace in the region. He also emphasized that Ethiopia was ready to provide the fullest cooperation for the Secretary-General’s efforts.
In his letter to the Secretary-General on November 24th, President Issayas said that he was puzzled by the expression of “increasing tension” in an earlier letter of the Secretary-General. He thought this might be based on information “deliberately disseminated by certain quarters” to create tension or divert attention from the cardinal issue. President Issayas said he could not express any views about the Boundary Commission at this stage. He said he was unable to comment on the possible appointment of a Special Representative by the Secretary-General. He also said he could not comment on the Secretary-General’s intention to send identical letters to himself and Prime Minister Meles, adding that it was difficult to contemplate what arrangements could be envisaged outside the measures proposed by the Boundary Commission. He concluded by saying “our sovereign territories remain occupied for five years now…I therefore urge you again to shoulder your responsibilities to ensure the rule of law and the prevalence of justice.”
Foreign Minister Seyoum also wrote to the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission President, Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, this week. He noted that the EEBC had repeatedly made clear its decision to end its work and its existence on December 1st. He said that neither party at the last meeting of the Commission at The Hague in September had raised any objection to the Commission’s decision to end its work and its existence at the end of this month. “Ethiopia”, he added, “respects the Commission’s decision in this regard.” He noted that any remaining work for the Commission was administrative, and that Ethiopia, while deeply saddened by the sudden death of Sir Arthur Watts, saw no necessity to appoint a replacement commissioner, and “does not intend to do so.”