Press Release
Eritrea Calls Upon Ethiopia Once Again to Respond to World Court Case about
Illegal Ethiopian Seizure of Eritrean Embassy Residence
On Wednesday, 28 June 2000, Eritrea repeated its call to Ethiopia to
respond to its petition to the International Court of Justice (World
Court) documenting Ethiopia's violations of the Eritrean Embassy
residence premises in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Eritrea's petitions of
February 16, 1999, and February 16, 2000, detailed the forcible entry
and ransacking of legally protected Eritrean diplomatic premises by
several dozen armed and uniformed Ethiopian security forces. Eritrea's
accredited ambassador to the Organization of African Unity was ordered
out of Ethiopia on 24 hours notice, leaving Eritrea without
representation at the OAU, and all of his personal and diplomatic
luggage was searched and seized. Sixteen months later, Ethiopian
security forces still remain in illegal physical possession of the
Eritrean Embassy residence in Addis Ababa.
Eritrea's call to Ethiopia to respond to the International Court of
Justice was occasioned by an allegation made by an Ethiopian Embassy
official in Asmara, Eritrea, that an unnamed individual had entered the
Ethiopian Embassy premises and while there had attempted to burn the
Ethiopian flag. By Note Verbale dated 28 June 2000, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea assured the Ethiopian Embassy
that the individual in question (who appeared to have been drinking)
had been promptly apprehended and was under investigation for pressing
of charges under the Eritrean Criminal Code. The individual in question
was acting alone.
In its Note Verbale of 28 June 2000, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the State of Eritrea called upon Ethiopia to bring any grievances that
it might believe that it has concerning the events of 23 June 2000 to
the attention of the World Court in The Hague. The World Court is
empowered to resolve complaints of violations of diplomatic and
consular immunities under international law.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 28 June 2000