From: Yacob Zecharias (yacobzech@yahoo.co.uk)
Date: Wed Jun 09 2010 - 11:39:16 EDT
The news that Eritrea is in the process of settling its difference with its neighbour Djibouti seems to be confusing some. Djibouti's motive to initiate a border 'dispute' with Eritrea is a secret only beholden to the government of Djibouti. The fact of the matter is that there has been a 'dispute'.
The Eritrean Government did not want the UN to resolve the issue for a reason. Primarily, the UN before taking all facts into account deemed Eritrea to be the transgressor. Having made its stand public then wanted to send a fact finding mission to the area. The UN issued various statements that clearly showed that it was biased against Eritrea. Hence, it could not be a neutral arbiter of the situation and the Government of Eritrea made this clear and declined to engage with the UN in this matter. Secondly, the UN's track record of resolving border issues is not one to be proud of.
Eritrea's action of withdrawing its troops, is not an acknowledgement of guilt, but an attempt to create a conducive atmosphere with Djibouti.
Qatar is a mediator that is acceptable to both parties as it is seen to be neutral. A framework of resolving the issue has been set up with Qatar being the overseer.
The Ethiopian government has tried to tarnish the peace effort by putting out a statement which states that Eritrea has agreed to pay compensation. If this was the case then it would imply that issue has been resolved. However, the process has just began and hopefully it will run its peaceful course.
The reason the Government has embarked on this road is stated in the 2 June Editorial of Eritrea Profile (http://74.63.78.28/Apr-10/eritrea_profile_02062010.pdf).
Instead of bemoaning the state of affairs of our Government, lets look at things in a positive way.
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