Press Release
State of Eritrea, Commission for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission
January 5, 2001
Ref. CCPM/PI/004/01

Commissioner Briefs SRSG on Issues Concerning TSZ

Commissioner Andebrhan Woldegiorgis met today with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) His Excellency Ambassador Legwailla Joseph Legwailla. The SRSG called on the Commissioner at noon today at the Commission for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission (CCPM) Headquarters in Asmara. Commissioner Andebrhan briefed the Special Representative on developments following the recent second meeting of the Military Coordination Commission (MCC) in Nairobi.

The Commissioner highlighted Ethiopia's attempt to obstruct the expeditious implementation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities by presenting a deployment plan based on false claims of positions held prior to the outbreak of the conflict. He stressed that this constituted a clear violation of Article 9 of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and the need for Ethiopia to fully comply with the Agreement. The Commissioner pointed out the Ethiopia's provocative declaration that it will postpone its withdrawal indefinitely constituted not only further violation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities but also open blackmail which UNMEE and the international community should not tolerate.

The Commissioner said these violations and provocations by Ethiopia merit an appropriate response from the international community in accordance with Article 14a of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities committing itself to "measures to be taken by the international community should one or both of the parties violate this commitment, including enforcement measures to be taken under the United Nations Charter by the UN Security Council."

The Commissioner noted that Ethiopia's early and full withdrawal is necessary to allow the internally displaced civilians to return to their homes and farms. Ethiopia's refusal to do so is prolonging the compounding the suffering of the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Eritreans.