Eritrea calls for pressure on Ethiopia to allow
demarcation
Wed
December 15, 2004 12:08 PM GMT+02:00
NAIROBI
(Reuters) - Eritrea appealed on Wednesday for stronger international pressure
on Ethiopia to fully implement a 2000 peace treaty, arguing the outside world
bore some responsibility for delays in settling a border dispute.
A government
statement also suggested that delays in implementing the treaty had left the
possibility of "another unnecessary and unjustifiable confrontation",
reflecting Eritrean concern the international community may be showing bias
towards its larger neighbour.
"The
government of Eritrea urges the international community to help secure peace
and stability in our region by putting pressure on Ethiopia to ensure the long
overdue demarcation of the boundary," the statement said.
"The blame
for this state of affairs does not rest with Ethiopia alone. Our partners in
peace have treaty and moral obligations to persuade Ethiopia to uphold the rule
of law and abide by its treaty obligations," the statement said.
Eritrea was
referring to main mediators who helped end the war: The Organisation of African
Unity -- forerunner of the African Union -- the European Union and the United
States.
A 1998-2000
border war between the countries, which killed an estimated 70,000 people,
ended with a peace treaty signed in December 2000.
Under the
accords the neighbours agreed to be bound by the ruling of an independent
boundary commission, which was set up to determine where the boundary lay.
Ethiopia
rejected independent ruling when it was issued in April 2002, saying it wrongly
awarded the border town of Badme, where the war started, to Eritrea.
But last month,
in an apparent about-face, Ethiopia said it accepted the ruling in principle
but wanted dialogue with Asmara on implementation.
Eritrea, which
agreed to the boundary commission report soon after it was published, has
repeatedly said there is no point in dialogue and the ruling must be
implemented in full.
Badme today
remains in Ethiopian hands.
Source:
Reuters
SA