JEDDAH, 29 January 2004 — The Eritrean Consul General, Abdul Rahman Osman M. Saed, announced yesterday that Eritrean expatriates in the Kingdom had welcomed the independent ruling on the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia which the Eritrean government had already endorsed. The US has been asked to single out which, if any, country violates the ruling.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a bloody two-year war that ended with a peace agreement in December 2000. According to the agreement, an independent boundary commission was set up to finalize the demarcation of the two countries’ 1,000-km border. Ethiopia, however, contests the placement of the town of Badme in Eritrea. The commission directed that Ethiopia hand back to Eritrea part of the Irob area.
Asked for some details of the peace agreement signed by Eritrea and Ethiopia in Algiers in December 2000, the consul general said, “Article 4.15 of the agreement clearly states that the boundary commission verdict is final and binding and the two parties are obliged and committed to accept the final judgment and abide by it. The Ethiopian government neglected, and objected to the agreement which it had signed before the world community.”
Speaking about the role of the international community, he said that the world community had been given full right and authority to take necessary action against any party violating the peace agreement.
“However no action has yet been taken so far against the Ethiopian government which openly declared its objection to the peace agreement and defied international law. It is really amazing to see the world community not taking any action,” he said.
The consul said Eritrean expatriates were united in the need to restore peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and to improve relations with Ethiopia. “Once the border demarcation is completed, the Eritrean government and its people will exert all efforts and will work with full dedication to restoring a good relationship based on mutual interests,” he said.
UN peacekeeping forces are monitoring the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The US, Britain and Germany have sought to raise international awareness of the risks posed by heightened tensions between the two countries.
