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The
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Office of the Prime Minister
September 19, 2003
Excellency,
I am writing to you to seek your assistance to help us overcome the
challenge that the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea is facing.
Despite the veneer of normalcy in the work of the Boundary Commission, I am
afraid the work of the Commission is in terminal crisis.
The key to the crisis of the work of the Commission is its totally illegal,
unjust, and irresponsible decision on Badme and parts of the Central
Sector. The Colonial treaties which are the basis of the Algiers Agreement
and which should have been the key basis for the delimitation and
demarcation of the boundary leave Badme inside Ethiopia. This is also the
Commission's own interpretation of the relevant Treaty. Nonetheless, the
Commission chose to base its decision on state practice, and having done
so, it went on and awarded Badme to Eritrea despite the overwhelming
evidence produced by Ethiopia proving that Badme had always been
administered by Ethiopia. Eritrea could not produce even a single document
to rebut Ethiopia's submission. The Commission's decision which was
allegedly based on state practice also ended up splitting a single village
and even a single homestead between the two countries. Its decisions in
some parts of the central sector are equally illegal, unjust and
irresponsible.
Badme, having been the first Ethiopian village to be occupied by Eritrea at
the start of the Eritrean aggression, is the casus belli for the war
between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Obviously, it does not require great wisdom
to see how symbolically important the village is for the people of Ethiopia
who have paid so much in blood to reverse the Eritrean Aggression and
liberate Ethiopian lands, including Badme. It is unimaginable for the
Ethiopian people to accept such a blatant miscarriage of justice. The
decision is thus a recipe for continued instability, and even recurring
wars.
The Boundary Commission admits that there are indeed anomalies in its
decision but states that it is unable to correct them unless the parties
give it an additional mandate. The Commission cannot be unaware of
Eritrea's total rejection of dialogue on demarcation. Nothing worthwhile
can therefore be expected from the Commission to salvage the peace process.
Indeed, the Commission seems to be determined to continue its disastrous
stance whatever the consequence to the peace of the region. Under these
circumstances, I believe only the Security Council can salvage the peace
process. It is to be noted that the Boundary Commission has itself
acknowledged the responsibility of the United Nations, in accordance with
the Algiers Agreement, to assist the two parties overcome challenges they
might face in the process of delimitation and demarcation. As the
Commission's decisions could inevitably lead the two countries into another
round of fratricidal war, the Security Council has an obligation, arising
out of the UN Charter, to avert such a threat to regional peace and
stability.
It is therefore in this spirit and with the conviction that it will be
possible to break the present deadlock, that Ethiopia is making the
following proposals. Ethiopia hopes that the Security Council, the witnesses
and guarantors of the Algiers Agreement and the Secretary General, will
help the two parties achieve the objective and purpose of the Algiers
Agreement.
- Ethiopia's
ultimate concern is achievement of durable peace and stability.
Accordingly, as a sign of its full commitment to durable peace between
Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ethiopia, while reaffirming its commitment under
the Algiers Agreement, stands ready to enter into a formal commitment
to reject the use of force as a means of resolving disputes and calls
upon Eritrea to do the same.
- Ethiopia
supports the suggestion made by the Secretary General of the UN
contained in his 23 June and 4 September 2003 reports to the Security
Council, as well as what is referred to in operative paragraph 6 of
Security Council resolution 1507 (2003) with respect to assistance by
the international community to help the two parties meet their joint
obligations for durable peace between them.
- In this
regard, I believe it is crucial that the Security Council set up an alternative
mechanism to demarcate the contested parts of the boundary in a just
and legal manner so as to ensure lasting peace in the region. The
alternative mechanism could be composed of the guarantors and
witnesses of the Algiers Agreement and representatives of the two
parties. Ethiopia is ready to address the problem through such a
mechanism.
- The
uncontested parts of the Boundary, specifically the whole eastern
Sector of the Boundary and that part of the Central Sector where the
river Mareb constitutes the boundary, can be demarcated without
waiting for the setting up of the alternative mechanism. The
alternative mechanism's mandate can be limited to the contested parts
of the boundary.
- In the
meantime, Ethiopia will recognize the current status quo, which is the
Southern boundary of the Temporary Security Zone, as the boundary
between the two countries. Pending completion of the demarcation
process, the mutual commitment by both parties to resolving their
boundary problems peacefully will make it possible, if the
international community so wishes for financial reasons, to expedite
the departure of UNMEE.
- Ethiopia
is willing to consider any ideas that could lead to a just and legal
process of demarcation of the boundary and can therefore ensure lasting
peace in the region.
Please accept, your Excellency, the assurances
of my highest consideration.
MELES ZENAWI
PRIME MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
H.E. MR. KOFI ANNAN
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
NEW YORK
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