Eritrea, US Unable To See Eye To Eye On Border Issue

Commentay

30 October 2007

That the US and Eritrea have difficulty seeing eye to eye on the border issue with US-ally Ethiopia is an open secret. During her appearance before House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on Middle East on Wednesday 24 Oct. 07, all US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice deed was restate that succinctly in diplomatic parlance.

At the time, Congressman Donald Payne’s question pertained to US stance as it relates only and only to the border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Rice responded by saying “It has been difficult to talk to Eritrea, frankly. We've had trouble getting them to talk to us. And I sent our assistant secretary to talk with Mr. Isaias, and he didn't see her.” That was the response to the question as far as the border issue, the only substance of the question, is concerned not in general terms. What part of that is misleading? That the US and Eritrea have been unable to see eye to eye when it comes to the border issue is indubitable fact?

Rice did not deny nor can she deny that on other matters, except the border issue, Eritrea and US have no difficulty talking to each other. That was not even the issue. On Darfur, US and Eritrea have no problem communicating, on combating terrorism Eritrea has enjoyed visits by high level generals and Navy commanders, and when the prior ambassador to Eritrea returned to the US at the end of his term early this year, the US appointed a replacement soon after without any second thoughts. It is therefore insane for any one to interpret Rice’s specific response to a specific Payne’s question to mean Rice’s denial of all and any US-Eritrea contacts? That is what is misleading not Rice’s response.

“So while we are saying to the Ethiopians that certain things need to be done, it would be very helpful if the Eritreans would show a little bit more interest in what the United States has to say.” elaborated Rice further. With that statement, Rice is pleading with Eritrea to “ show a little bit more interest in what the United States has to say” in regards to the border issue, for that is the substance of Payne’s question. But the ruler of Eritrea, Isayas Afewerki, is apparently not interested in what the US has to say to the issue at hand. All ruler Afewerki wants is for the US to simply obey his commands and to implement the border ruling as decided without ands, ifs, or buts. Well, Mr. President, I have bad news for you: Like most other instances in life, there is no free lunch in politics. If you are seeking or demanding US cooperation in implementing the border ruling, then you will have to swallow your egotistic pride and find a way to listen to what the US has to say regarding the border issue. And the best way of doing that is not by antagonizing but by engaging the US at the highest-level possible including you.

In an attempt to demonstrate US efforts to talk to Eritrea regarding the border issue, “I sent our assistant secretary to talk with Mr. Esayas, and he didn't see her” said Rice. This Dr. Rice’s statement is at odds with the publicly made remarks of the Assistant Secretary (Dr. J. Frazer) regarding her trip to Eritrea per se. At the time, Frazer told reporters that her “only purpose of her trip to Eritrea was to go to the border through Asmara and then to Ethiopia”. Now, who is not telling the truth here? Usually, the person at the higher level of the diplomatic hierarchy gets the benefit of the doubt for obvious reasons. While that was the ostensible objective of Frazer’s mission to Eritrea, no one can rule out with absolute certainty that the real but undeclared purpose and intent of Frazer’s trip might have been indeed an attempt to talk to Afewerki? Be that as it may, playing the blame game is not going to take us anywhere.

How about trying to fix the problem? If Eritrea is willing to listen to what the US has to say regarding the border issue and wants to prove Dr. Rice wrong, all Eritrea needs to do is to arrange a meeting between Assistant Secretary J. Frazer and Mr. Afewerki today and get the talks started at the very next possible opportunity prior to 30 November 2007. It appears that is what it takes to demarcate the border peacefully and as decided. What is wrong with that? It is Afewerki’s call. The US has nothing to lose in this game.

Author can be contacted at bmtekeste@yahoo.com