Press Release
REF: CCPM/115/01
Eritrea Protests Ethiopian Attack
The Government of Eritrea today strongly protested Ethiopia's latest violations
of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in the Central Sector.
In a letter addressed to the Special Representative of the Secretary General
of the United nations, Ambassador Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, the Commissioner
for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission, Ambassador Andebrhan Weldegiorgis,
protested last Friday's Ethiopian attack on Eritrean police and militia at Gegew.
The letter stated that on 30 November 2001, at about 9:30 in the morning, around
250 Ethiopian army troops opened fire on Eritrean police and local militia at
Gegew (Zigfet), elevation peak 2708, in the Senafe Sub-zone. It further asserted
that the attack was witnessed by UNMEE's Indbat (Indian Battalion) platoon on
the scene whose commander has ascertained and reported the Ethiopian fire to
his superiors.
The Commissioner's letter of protest underscored that this latest attack, coming
in the aftermath of Ethiopia's baseless accusations, unfounded allegations and
dire threats, represents a dangerous provocation jeopardizing the peace process.
It noted that the Ethiopian army has recently intensified its military activities,
including the deployment of additional troops, mechanized armour and artillery,
around its forward positions and increased incursions into additional sovereign
Eritrean territory, such as Kolete Geraana (Monokhseyto), in the agreed location
of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). The Commissioner stressed that Ethiopia's
heightened military activities and incursions are of grave concern to the Government
of Eritrea, as they signal Ethiopia's preparations to back its threats to unravel
the peace process with military provocations and attacks.
The Commissioner expressed the Government of Eritrea's firm condemnation of
Ethiopia's military attacks, incursions and provocations at a time when the
international community is eagerly awaiting the Boundary Commission to hold
its crucial hearings in The Hague in the next few days and deliver its "final
and binding" conclusions by February 2002. He called on UNMEE to take the
necessary measures, and heighten its vigilance, to deter Ethiopia from continuously
violating the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and derailing the peace
process at this crucial juncture.
Under the circumstances, the Commissioner called on the international community,
as the guarantor of the Algiers Peace Agreements, to remain firmly seized of
the matter and invoke the appropriate enforcement measures under Chapter VII
of the UN Charter to ensure Ethiopia's compliance with its obligations under
the Algiers agreements so as to ensure the success of the peace process.
State of Eritrea
Commission for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission
Asmara, 5 December 2001