Mr. Osman made the remarks in a speech he delivered at the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly on October 1. He pointed out that the TPLF regime is still occupying sovereign Eritrean territory in violation of international law, the UN Charter and the Algiers Peace Agreement. The Foreign Minister further indicated that the TPLF regime’s official rejection of the final and binding EEBC ruling has created a major impediment to peace and security in the region.

Noting that the TPLF regime has not been cooperating with the EEBC ever since they awarded Badme to Eritrea, the Minister gave a detailed explanation to the Assembly regarding the TPLF regime’s non-compliance with the rule of law right from the time the Boundary Commission issued its ruling up until now. He pointed out that although the Commission has presented no less than 24 reports to the Security Council over the past years, the Council has not yet taken any action on the basis of Article 14 of the Algiers Peace Agreement and Article 39 of the UN Charter, thus posing obstacles to the rule of law. Mr. Osman further underlined that the failure of the Security Council to live up to its obligations, as well as the support of the US Administration to its servant TPLF regime at the expense of international law and regional peace and security, has hindered the Eritrean-Ethiopian border demarcation process which was scheduled to be finalized in 2003. As a result, the region is again exposed to danger, he elaborated.

Indicating that Eritrea has fulfilled what is required of it, Mr. Osman explained that the TPLF regime’s rejection of the EEBC ruling did not take into consideration the suffering of the tens of thousands of war-displaced Eritrean nationals still living in makeshift camps.

Moreover, the Minister stressed the dangerous scenario of the open invasion of Somalia under the pretext of fighting terrorism, and that any action under the guise of ‘international terrorism’ is baseless. He further explained that as the Somali issue is the internal affair of the Somali people, external forces in Somalia should immediately vacate the country without any pre-condition.

As regards the Sudanese peace process, Mr. Osman noted that following a long journey to resolve its internal conflicts, the Sudan is now heading towards comprehensive peace. He also explained that Eritrea would cooperate with all parties and countries towards the realization of the goals set in regards to the Darfur peace process.

The Foreign Minster went on to stress the need for demarcation of the Eritrean-Ethiopian border in accordance with international law and the Boundary Commission’s final and binding ruling. He also underscored the need for the Security Council to live up to its obligations and the US to rectify its policy so that the people of the region could live in peace and security.

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