Biddho.com Eritrea - Rising To The Challenges! - Ethiopia Rejects Eritrean Ethiopian Boundary Commission's Authority (again)!

Africa News

News

Opinion

Ethiopia Rejects Eritrean Ethiopian Boundary Commission's Authority (again)!

Written by Merhawie

Monday, 17 September 2007

The Ethiopian Premier, Meles Zenawi, has unequivocally stated that he now has reversed his position (again), and no longer accepts the "final and binding" nature of the Agreement he signed with Eritrea, seven years ago. In an interview with state-owned media, Premier Meles added, "There might be a need for another body in the future..." suggesting that he feels the final boundary drawn up by the Eritrean Ethiopian Boundary Commission (EEBC), with the authority granted to it to make its final decision by himself and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki, is invalid.

The Boundary Commission issued four demands to Eritrea last week, including lifting restrictions on UN troops in the Temporary Security Zone separating troops from both countries. Eritrea replied that it would abide by all of the commissions requirements if Ethiopia offered "unqualified acceptance" to the authority of the EEBC. "Ethiopia stated that, even if Eritrea did everything that the Commission specified, it was not prepared to move forward."

If Ethiopia will not abide by the decisions of a commission convened under its own authority, the suggestion by its Premier that another may be necessary in the future lacks credibility. Further, as the decisions of the EEBC are "final and binding," no changes are allowed to be made without the expressed approval of both parties, however, Eritrea has stated numerous times, "we will [not] compromise our sovereignty or territorial integrity."

This reversal of position by the Ethiopian Prime Minister is likely to inflame an already tense border situation. Eritrea is likely to continue calls for the international community to "...[help] close this chapter once and for all."

Comments

Add New

RSS

Only registered users can write comments!