“The international community is empowered by the Article 14 of the Algiers peace agreement to take appropriate measures over Ethiopia” The Eritrean Minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Ali Seid
By Shabait Staff
October 17, 2003

The Eritrean Foreign Minister, Mr. Ali Seid Abdellah briefed the ambassadors of Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Qatar and Yemen stationed in Eritrea yesterday on the developments in the peace process, the border demarcation and the Ethiopian regime’s ongoing obstruction of the peace process.

In reiterating the Government of Eritrea firm commitment to the peace agreement it is signatory to in Algiers, the Eritrean Foreign Minister said Ethiopia on the other hand has in its letter to UN Secretary General Koffi Annan on September 19 officially rejected the ‘final and binding’ decision of the Boundary Commission.

After pointing out the content of the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s letter that indicates the regime’s intentions by threatening to unleash another round of war unless it gets its way, Mr. Ali Seid added that this is clear evidence of the Ethiopian regime’s reluctance to peace.

Mr. Ali Seid Abdellah went on to say that Eritrea has nominated its field liaison officer as requested by the boundary commission while Ethiopia has yet to give a name of its personnel. With regards to the boundary commission’s request for the provision of security to contractors and technical experts of the commission, the Eritrean foreign minister highlighted the fulfillment of provision on the part of Eritrea in a move that is yet to be paralleled by Ethiopia. The eastern part of the border was left for both sides to give their opinions on. Once again, Ethiopia failed to give any specifications while Eritrea provided the assistance needed during the researches that were to be conducted in the central as well as the western sectors of the border.

Following his mention of the Ethiopian government’s absurdity by claiming that the Ethiopia will accept the decision, Mr. Ali Seid added that the Ethiopian government never consulted the Ethiopian population when it declared war over Eritrea through its parliament in 1998.

According to Article 14 of the Algiers Peace Agreement, the witnesses and guarantors of the Agreement are empowered to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter and take appropriate measures against the Ethiopian regime, which has violated and officially rejected the agreement.

After citing the gravity of the Ethiopian regime’s stand in threatening the international law, Mr. Ali Seid notified that unless serious measures are taken over the rogue regime, the situation could once again plunge the peoples of the two countries into another war.

The Ambassadors on their part said that as long as the two sides agree to abide by the decision of the international court, the party that is in breach of the decision is in contempt to the rule of law. They also underscored that the case is clear and unambiguous. The ambassadors praised the Eritrean government’s commitment to the boundary commission’s decision and went on to say that Eritrea has proved its advanced stand during the settlement of the dispute with Yemen.