Recalcitrant Ethiopia bars normal relations with Eritrea

Commentary

27 Dec 2004

The normalization of relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have been barred solely by Ethiopia�s brazen refusal to accept a border ruling that would have re-established and laid down the indispensable foundation for that and any and every other issue of mutual interest in blatant contravention of treaty obligation.

That being what it is, the cause of the two-year (1998-2000) war between Eritrea and Ethiopia is Ethiopia�s violation/questioning of Eritrea�s territorial sovereignty (aka �border dispute�). And the most cardinal purpose of the Algiers peace agreement was to sort out and settle the sovereignty over the border shared by the two countries peacefully, legally, and conclusively in a manner that will bring closure and finality to the matter and to restore normal relations by way of a court decision that is final, binding and without right to appeal or recourse of any kind.

With that in mind, while the call for normalization of relations in the sense of creating amicable ambience and restoring ordinary diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia is welcome and understandable, it makes no sense when the requisite basis for such relations is lacking. At the risk of being repetitive and stating the obvious, it is worth noting that international relations in general and relations between neighboring nations in particular are based indispensably on mutual respect for and recognition of each other�s territorial and national sovereignty, at the very least. That is a sine qua non for this kind of relationship and the established modus operandi in such situations.

By accepting the border ruling in its entirety and unequivocally, Eritrea has demonstrated its respect for and recognition of Ethiopia�s territorial and national sovereignty thereby paving the way for normalization of relations with Ethiopia.� But Ethiopia�s refusal to accept the ruling unequivocally denies respect for and recognition of Eritrea�s territorial and national sovereignty thereby barring normalization of relations with Eritrea. Under such circumstances, calls for normalization of relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia are hollow unless at the same time Ethiopia is compelled and called upon under practical threats to restate its unequivocal acceptance of the border decision in words and deeds, which is the only basis for establishing any kind of relations/rapprochement between the two countries.