Statement by H.E. Mr. Ali Said Abdella, Foreign Minister,
at the Opening Session of the Algiers Peace Talks, 23 October 2000

Mr. Chairman,
Your Excellencies,

Allow me at the outset to express Eritrea's deep gratitude to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and to the people and government of Algeria. Driven by their commitment to the welfare of Africa and working on behalf of the Organization of African Unity, they have enabled Eritrea and Ethiopia to sign the important agreement on Cessation of Hostilities here in Algiers. And, they--Algeria and the OAU--along with their partners--the United Nations, the United States and the European Union--continue to shoulder the heavy burden of helping us achieve a final peaceful settlement of our tragic and extremely costly conflict.
Let me also seize this opportunity to convey Eritrea's profound appreciation to the United Nations and the OAU for their decision to send a peacekeeping mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea and for the expedited manner with which it is being implemented. The people and government of Eritrea are deeply grateful to all the countries which have committed their men and women and their resources to prevent a resumption of the war. We want to assure all of them that Eritrea is committed to, and will spare no effort in, making the United Nations peacekeeping mission a resounding success.

Mr. Chairman,
Your Excellencies
The June 18 Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities was an important breakthrough in the two-and-a-half year peace process between Eritrea and Ethiopia. We need to implement it faithfully and expeditiously, to take decisive action against any violation of its provisions. As your excellencies are aware, Eritrea has not only been scrupulous in its implementation of the Agreement and unreserved in its cooperation with the United Nations mission, but it has also chosen to act with utmost restraint whenever the Agreement has been violated, preferring to pursue the matter with the OAU and its partners.

Mr. Chairman,
Your Excellencies,
We are gathered here today to pursue the effort to arrive at a final settlement of the dispute. What is fundamentally at issue is the respect for borders inherited from colonialism, which is a sacrosanct principle of the OAU. We also need to redress the negative socio-economic impact of the conflict on the civilian population and launch an independent investigation to determine the origins of the conflict. Eritrea is confident that rapid progress can be made and a final settlement reached provided we all adhere to the Framework Agreement, which has been accepted by both parties and formally endorsed by the OAU and the United Nations.

I thank you.