Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Addis Ababa (Fides Service)- “This development is serious although there are no signs of a return of military tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea or, still worse, of war” local Church sources in Addis Ababa told Fides commenting Eritrea’s withdrawal of its diplomatic representative to the African Union which has its headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Asmara said in an official statement that the decision was taken “to protest against the African Union’s silence in front of evident violations of the Algiers Agreement”, signed on 30 May 2000, to put an end to the 1998-2000 border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The agreement stipulated that the countries would refer to an international Commission to settle the question and to trace the borders between the two states.
“Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has refused more than once to accept to boundaries traced by the international Commission” the sources told Fides. “In fact there would appear to be contradictions in Ethiopian policies: on the one hand they say they are willing to solve the crisis with Asmara through dialogue and involvement of the international community, but on the other they question the efficacy of an international arbiter. The Premier even referred to an argument in another international arbitration - between Nigeria and Cameroon - to explain Ethiopia’s reasons for rejecting the conclusions of the international Commission” the sources told Fides.
The main point of discussion is the destiny of the village of Badme, the initial cause of the war in which at least 70,000 people were killed. The international Commission assigned Badme to Eritrea, a decision which Addis Ababa refused to accept.
“The positive fact is that despite tension between Asmara and Addis Ababa, the two countries do not appear to be about to enter into war. There are encouraging signs, for example a meeting between Ethiopian and Eritrean army leaders 10 days ago in Kenya to discuss measures to increase reciprocal trust in the will on both sides to consolidate peace” the sources told Fides.
To monitor the cease-fire the United Nations Organisation deployed a peacekeeping force UNMEE (United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea), composed of 4.200 from 44 different countries in various parts of the world. (L.M.) (Fides Service 21/11/2003 lines 34 words 451)
