Wouldn't you be angry enough to pass one erroneous judgment after another? Wouldn't you make an angry summary, and spit your venom at the victim? Of course, Dr. Fraser and her team are venting their failure of understanding the Horn politics. Dr. Fraser's remarks should not come as a surprise, after all she could be venting at the mirror?

Ever since Dr. Fraser was appointed to deal with the Horn of Africa, she stumbled left and right, the result being an earth-shaking down fall with a big THUD.

The Algiers Peace signatories; the African Union, EU, United States, United Nations and Algerian Government; quietly attempted to demote themselves from “Guarantors” to “Witnesses”, thence wriggling to lose free from the legal, political and moral obligations they must shoulder. Everyone caved in for the United States to be the prime taskmaster and caretaker of the Algiers Peace Agreement, and in effect, an attempt to slip in a disguised phrase; “neutral facilitator” was made. That was were Dr. Frazer came in.

Why was Dr. Fraser obsessed to walk "along the borders of Eritrea and Ethiopia", hence sympathize with the concerns of Ethiopia only? Didn't Eritrea have legitimate concerns that Dr. Fraser could have also taken into consideration? There was no need for her to take a "border walk”, but walk she did with obvious intents in her bag. How would Jendayi’s “hike” along the Eritrean-Ethiopian border make things better for the EEBC ruling?

With the exception of Ethiopia, every nation in the Horn slammed their doors shut after they witnessed Dr. Frazer’s semi-diplomatic encounters. All her acrobatic attempts were not one of a true diplomacy, but a one more round to undermine the works of the EEBC, and its "final & binding" resolution. Was the agenda to give previously failed attempts of intimidating Eritrea a new hair do? What John Bolton and others attempted via a direct route rendered ineffective, and hence a modified Jendai route were sent into the works.

Whether Jendayi got a new hair do or not, the EEBC ruling remains the sole legal entity to facilitate only the technical demarcation process. This is so, because the EEBC has long ago finished its legal task; i.e. it has issued a ruling to demarcate the Eritrea-Ethiopia border as "Final & Binding". If the EEBC needs technical expertise for border delineation, then it sure knows where to go find skilled labors from the funds allocated for this very purpose. It is not quite clear whether Dr. Fraser has any expertise in any of the technicalities of delineating a border, and therefore there was need for her to shoulder the action item from the start. Or perhaps, she could have consulted with her predecessors like Jimmy Carter, Herman Cohen, Susan Rice, Anthony Lake and Lloyd Axworthy before she packed for the "walk".

The more Ethiopia remained belligerent, the more it sounded like what Dr. Fraser sounds now. Nevertheless, Eritrea's legal, moral and diplomatic high grounds remain intact, and thence provoking Dr. Frazer's anger and disappointments!

Eritrea should not be pressured for untimely bilateral talks with Ethiopia, and that choice solely remains the options of the people and government of the State of Eritrea. Eritrea has the right to take its time and on its own will to mull over future talks without any rush. If Eritrea's present choices are resulting the disappointment of Dr. Fraser, then she probably will articulate it later in hindsight.

The EEBC had stated earlier on, that “facilitation” would be an option if and only if the two contending parties agree. If Eritrea had not chosen any tampering, then any forceful attempt of pressing Eritrea to accept facilitation without its free will would be illegal. And Eritrea has the rights to walk the legal aisle free with its head high and legally unscathed.

According to the law, Ethiopia should have been pressured by Article VII of the Algiers Peace Agreement, which gives Eritrea further legal justifications to pursue Article 51 of the UN charter.

After all had failed, like many of its predecessors, Dr. Jendai Fraser is now well introduced with the State of Eritrea, and the people of Eritrea! Like the past falling comets we saw come and go, this comet also has come to pass.

So much for trying to wriggle free off the noose, but Eritrea had cleverly tied the knots earlier on. Hope Dr. Jendai Fraser enjoyed the scenic border walk in the Horn of Africa. So much so, it was not a very stylish hair do Dr. Jendayi Frazer!

After all said and done, the world should have come to its senses and empower its legal responsibilities and obligations. Nevertheless, every Eritrean knows that means a hypothetical wish list, and that Eritrea, now as before solely counts on its very assets. It's cherished people that is!

The Sons/Daughters of the State of Eritrea have long ago learnt to go at it alone in the dark! It is the spirit they carry from within, because our Gallant Martyrs breath through each of us, and their aspirations will never will wither in vain. Their heartbeats and their songs of triumph are within each Eritrean soul. The darks have come to pass, and the Sons/Daughters of Eritrea across the globe echo the songs of "The Roaring Angels". Songs of the Martyrs of the State of Eritrea that is!

God/Allah Bless Eritrea
Eternal Glory to Our Martyrs
Araia G. Ephrem

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