On Recent Ethiopia-Eritrea Bilateral Situation
(Foreign Affairs Journal Discourse)
June 25,2018
1. Japan is encouraged by the announcement of the acceptance and implementation of the Algiers peace agreement by Prime Minister Abbey of Ethiopia and the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Committee, and the intention of President Isayas of Eritrea to send a delegation to Ethiopia , Japan welcomes movements toward improving relations between the two countries.
2. Japan hopes that the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea will be normalized and the border problems between the two countries will be settled peacefully.
3. Japan intends to continue to cooperate with Ethiopia and Eritrea so that improvements in bilateral relations will lead to stability in the horn of Africa.
[Reference] Ethiopia-Eritrean border problem
(1) In 1993, Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia. Since then both countries have maintained close ties, however, there has been friction between Eritrea's own currency and royalties for Asab Port, and in May 1998 armed conflicts occurred over the border demarcation problem.
(2) In December 2000, under the mediation of the African Unity Organization (then), a comprehensive peace agreement (Algae peace agreement) was established. In response to this, in February 2001, Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Committee (EEBC) was established in The Hague, the Netherlands. In April 2002, the EEBC ruled that Badmera village near the border between the two countries belongs to Eritrea, and in 2004 Ethiopia proposed a peace plan to accept "principle" EEBC ruling, but in the same peace plan, Because he claimed that the village belongs to Ethiopia, Eritrea refused the peace plan because the EEBC ruling has already decided the border.
(3) In March 2012, March 2015, June 2016, the Ethiopian army attacked the Eritrean territory, the collision at the border intermittently occurred, and until today Ethiopia dominates the Badmera village area is continuing.
(4) On April 2, Prime Minister of Abbey and Ethiopia announced the diplomatic stance of dialogue lines to improve relations with Eritrea in his inaugural speech at the People's Congress, and on June 5, the ruling People's Revolution The Democratic Front (EPRDF) Executive Committee decided to fully accept and implement the Algiers peace agreement and the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Committee for the purpose of restoring peace and stability. In addition, Prime Minister Abbe mentioned on the full implementation of the Algeria peace agreement in the Q & A session of the fourth session of the People's Congress on June 18. On the other hand, President Isaas Eritrea said in a speech on June 20, "To send a delegation to Addis Ababa to judge future response" on the relationship with Ethiopia.
(Software translation)
