Eritrea/Ethiopia: France reiterates, border ruling
final & binding
Jan 18 2005 (Ethiopian Reprter) – in a lengthy
interview with the ‘Ethiopian Reporter, France’s recently designated ambassador to Ethiopia, Stephane Gompertz,
said that as far as the border issue between Eritrea and Ethiopia is concerned
“Our position or principle has always been that since all
countries involved, including the whole international community, have committed
themselves to accepting the decision of the Boundary Commission, it had to be
accepted. It had to be implemented. This has always been our position. One
might be satisfied or not with the content of this decision, but there it is.
And our feeling and when I say "our feeling" - it's not only the
feeling of France but also the feelings of the EU, the US, the whole Security
Council - is that there was a commitment and the decision had to be accepted
and implemented. Now when, originally, the government of Ethiopia said that
they had difficulties with that and are not going to implement it, we told them
that we disagreed even though we could understand the reasons behind their
objections. But clearly there is a legal decision and it is binding. And we
repeatedly told the Ethiopian authorities and all our Ethiopian friends there's
no other choice but to accept it.” For text
of the full interview please be referred to the following link:
http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/displayenglish.php?id=1808
Unlimited, high
