Statement by the Eritrean Cabinet of
Ministers
By: Shabait Staff
December 17, 2003
In its meeting of 16 December 2003, the Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers conducted
in- depth deliberations on the border demarcation process and the prevailing
dangerous circumstances regarding its implementation. Moreover, the Ministerial
Cabinet assessed the diplomatic campaign that Eritrea has so far undertaken
in this regard.
The Cabinet of Ministers took note of the fact that although the implementation
of the Boundary Commission’s ruling of 13April 2002 on border demarcation, which
provided a legal conclusion to the war unleashed against Eritrea by the TPLF
regime in 1998 and the regional crisis it subsequently created was scheduled
to be finalized by last November, the demarcation process is presently undergoing
a new crisis due to the TPLF regime’s non- compliance with the Commission’s
verdict and its violation of the rule of law.
The Cabinet of Ministers went on to underscore that the TPLF regime’s rejection
of the Boundary Commission’s final and binding ruling which it had previously
signed constitutes a threat to regional peace and stability, undermining the
rule of law in the world, as well as the fundamental norms of international
law.
The Cabinet assessed that the main reason encouraging the TPLF regime to reject
the peace accord is the failure of the international community, particularly
the drafters and guarantors of the Algiers Peace Agreement and the body responsible
for taking strict measures and applying sanctions over the violator of the peace
accord in bringing sufficient pressure to bear on the violating party, is encouraging
the TPLF regime to reject and push the peace process to disaster.
The Cabinet of Ministers underlined that the regime which previously refused
dialogue with Eritrea under the pretext of ‘no negotiations until the system
in Asmara is changed’ is now arrogantly playing a new diplomatic game of so-
called open ended dialogue that ultimately dismantles the core of the peace
verdict.
Further underlining that dialogue can never be a substitute for the implementation
of the Eritrean- Ethiopian Boundary Commission’s ruling and safeguarding national
sovereignty, the Cabinet stressed that if the issue at hand is that of holding
negations on relations between the two countries, the natural phenomenon of
confidence-building and strengthen economic ties, this could take place only
after the implementation of the Boundary Commission’s ruling and the safeguarding
of national sovereignty.
The Cabinet of Ministers further reminded the international community, especially
the drafters and guarantors of the final and binding peace agreement, not to
commit another historic inexcusable error over the Eritrean people by failing
to assume their full responsibility.
The Ministerial Cabinet also emphasized that the guarantors of peace, especially
the UN Security Council, have mandatory historic obligations to apply appropriate
measures over the violating regime that is constantly abusing international
law and charter principles without any political and legal justification whatsoever.
Concluding its one- day meeting, the Cabinet of Ministers commended the Eritrean
people for the resolute manner in which they are carrying out development programs
and their readiness to cope with any eventualities that may result from the
continued hostile policies of the Ethiopian regime.
The Cabinet decided that diplomatic efforts for achieving a peaceful and legal
solution to the crisis will continue.
The Cabinet of Ministers
Asmara, 16 December 2003.