Eritrean minister says "patience has limits"
Asmara,
Eritrea, Oct 02, 2004 - Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Ali Sayyid Abdallah in key
note address at the 59th session of UN General Assembly on 29 September said
that although Eritrea's sovereign territory remains occupied by force [by
Ethiopia] and over 60,000 of its citizens are displaced and living in temporary
shelter camps, it is showing maximum patience and tolerance. However, he said
patience has limits specially if the prevailing humanitarian crisis continues
indefinitely. Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Ali Sayyid Abdallah in key note
address at the 59th session of UN General Assembly on 29 September said that
although Eritrea's sovereign territory remains occupied by force [by Ethiopia]
and over 60,000 of its citizens are displaced and living in temporary shelter
camps, it is showing maximum patience and tolerance. However, he said patience
has limits specially if the prevailing humanitarian crisis continues
indefinitely.
He said the
silence shown by the international community in the past two years and its
negative effect to regional peace and stability was enormous. He said cloud of
a new war is looming over the country due to the failure of the super powers
and the international community at large to persuading Ethiopia, the country
which is violating the rule of law, to abide by the agreement. He said although
the Algiers agreement of 2000, which was endorsed by both Eritrea and Ethiopia
by appending their signatures, was drafted and brokered by the USA, EU, AU,
Algeria and others, is in the verge of collapse due to failure of the
international community to shoulder its responsibilities on the issue.
He said Ethiopia
dismissed the boundary commission's decision as totally illegal, unjust and
irresponsible and endangered the entire peace process, yet the super powers
have not taken any action to persuade Ethiopia to uphold the rule of law and
abide by the agreement its signed. On the contrary, Ethiopia continue to
receive massive economic and military support. Therefore, he said the problem
is not only Ethiopia's violation of rule of law, but the international
communities encouragement to Ethiopia's anarchism.
He said it is
pity to see the UN and some super powers bringing about other issues - special
envoy and dialogue, rather than working hard and taking effective action for
the success of the peace process. He said these ideas are not only out of the
Algiers agreement, but will also derail the peace process and invite tension
and conflict.
He said the
special envoy was appointed few weeks after Ethiopia officially rejected the
boundary commission's decision and also after requesting the UN Security
Council to seek another mechanism. He said the government of Eritrea no matter
how irrational the issue was only asked for clarification on the mandate and
function of the special envoy. He said if dialogue is required to revive and
restore relations between the two countries, the two countries as neighbours
are destined to live together and in harmony. However, he said it is like
putting the cart before the horse to discuss economic cooperation and security
issues when Ethiopia had officially rejected the Algiers agreement and the
boundary commission's decision and is still occupying Eritrea's sovereign
territory.
Quoting UN
secretary-general's address to the UN general Assembly on 21 September 2004
which says the UN General Assembly should respect the rule of law at home and
outside, Mr Ali Sayyid said the people and government of Eritrea adhere to his
saying, however, Eritrea continues to be victims of the violations of the rule
of law. [passage omitted].
Source: Voice of
the Broad Masses of Eritrea via BBC
Monitoring Service - United Kingdom , Asmara, in Tigrinya 0500 gmt 2 Oct 04