Is Mr. Lloyd Axworthy trying to breaking the international
law?
By: Zemen Tesfay
February 22, 2004
A well known and respected man Mr. Lloyd Axworthy who once in an Asahi Shimbun
interview May 5-6 2001 on global issues said that "There's one sort of tendency
reflected in U.S. politics and Congress and sometimes in the administration.
It is because they are the most powerful country they can be above the law,"...
"But if you are not prepared to support the rule of law, then it will be very
hard to tell people like Milosevic and Pol Pot that they have to obey the rules
too.", is now cought for breaking the rule of law when Eritrea rejected him
as an Envoy.
Eritrea and Ethiopia signed the Algiers agreement to end their border row which
is supposed to be as final and binding nature of a Border Commission's [EEBC]
verdict, and the EEBC as a sol responsible for the demarcations and implementation
process. Not respecting this agreement would cause a punishment and sanction
according to the UN chapter VII, which is included in the agreement. After the
verdict, Ethiopia showed reservations and finally rejected it. Eritrea is now
waiting for the guarantors to act and impose sanction on Ethiopia according
to the agreement.
A sudden appointment of Mr. Axworthy by UN general secretary Kofi Anan has now
led the peace process to a new stage. The envoy whom according UN would be appointed
only if both countries agreed on a good will was appointed despite Eritrea's
reservation. In his first interview with the IRIN news Mr. Axworthy said " ..the
boundary commission decision should be developed ", in contradiction of the
final and binding nature of the agreement. After his arrival in Addis Ababa
Ethiopia he said "..the purpose here is about to bring the implementation",
despite it was the EEBC that was responsible for that and the most disturbing
of all was when he said "I am not sure it [EEBC] still has the capacity to provide
that kind of representation that the secretary-general would like to have..."
which surely was meant to disqualify the EEBC and take the charge at his own
hands. He showed no intention to push Ethiopia which in this case is a violator
of the law to accept the decision.
Eritrea wondering who gave Mr. Axworthy [who doesn't exist in any agreement
signed by the parties including UN] the Authority and mandate of changing agreements
has rejected his visit to Eritrea and it is sticking to the international law.
UN officials in Asmara has warned Mr.Axworthy to bring some tangible result
from Ethiopia rather than pushing Eritrea who has already accepted the agreement
in its entirely. Now why is Mr Axworthy not supporting the rule of law? Is
it because of tendency that he feels he is the most powerful man and thus he
can be above the international law as he accused the US? . Media statements
such as "poor countries go to war " in the case of Eritrea-Ethiopia is now too
old fashioned that it gives niether sense nor credibility. Wars are being imposed
on them by twisting rules of law, amending none amendable documents, by those
envoys.
Kind regads
Zemen Tesfay