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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Press Statement
24 October, 2007
Eritrea’s spin doctors are back in action again. This time it’s over the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission’s 25th report to the UN Secretary-General. And we should, perhaps, be grateful to Eritrea for publicizing a leaked copy; we have yet to receive one ourselves.
Eritrea, however, should stop its efforts at spin. It should focus on the crux of the matter: this is the absolute necessity for Eritrea’s full compliance with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. This must include complete restoration of the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone and the lifting of all restrictions on UNMEE. These are the key obligations under the Algiers Agreements. No amount of spin by Eritrea can disguise this. Demarcation cannot take place until Eritrea’s full compliance with these Agreements is restored.
It is to be recalled that Ethiopia, on September 22, issued a Notification to Eritrea. We regret we have not yet had a response. Unless Eritrea does respond positively to this, and as soon as possible, Ethiopia will have to look seriously at the other legal options available to it.
The President of the Boundary Commission noted Ethiopia’s full commitment to the demarcation process at the March 2006 meeting of the parties and the Commission: “We have taken note of the fact that Ethiopia has accepted the delimitation decision. At one time there was a qualification of that acceptance by the expression “in principle” and we understand that that has now been dropped so it is a complete and unconditional acceptance, so there is no doubt that Ethiopia is willing to move on to the complete demarcation of the boundary and all we are trying to do now is figure out how to go about that.” This remains Ethiopia’s position as its representatives underlined last month at the meeting of the parties with the Commission at The Hague.
October 24, 2007 - Addis Ababa
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