Axworthy remains optimistic despite Eritrean opposition

By Abraham Fisseha

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 19 (AFP) — The UN special envoy for Eritrea and Ethiopia, Lloyd Axworthy, expressed optimism on Thursday that a solution to the two countries’ border conflict would be found despite Asmara’s opposition to his mission.

Eritrea has made clear its doubts about Axworthy’s appointment and also warned it would not allow the UN envoy to visit Asmara during his current visit to the region.

“The Eritrean president is showing reservation to my mission, but I am used to doors being slammed on my face,” said Axworthy.

“I am persistent and I am good at opening them. I will be in the region as long as it takes,” Axworthy, who arrived in Addis Ababa early on Thursday, told reporters.

But Eritrea immediately rejected any suggestion of a visit to the country by Axworthy, with a top aide of Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki saying that such move was “out of the question”.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Axworthy, a former Canadian foreign minister, last month in a bid to resolve the border dispute over which Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a brutal two-year war.

The war’s end was capped with a peace accord signed in Algiers in 2000 that committed both nations to accept the ruling of an independent commission to determine their 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) border.

But Ethiopia rejected the commission’s decision after it awarded the border town of Badme to Eritrea.

Yemane Gebremeskel, director of Afeworki’s office, said that the idea of an envoy was “not acceptable” for Asmara as the decision of the boundary commission was “final and binding and cannot be subject to diplomatic discussions.”

“Take effective measures against Ethiopia and make sure Ethiopia complies with the boundary commission’s decision, that’s what we expect from the UN,” he said.

“As far as Eritrea is concerned, the problem lies in Ethiopia’s non-compliance of the Algiers Agreement and obstruction of the demarcation process. Eritrea will not accept a new mechanism which is not legal,” he added.

Axworthy was due to have talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and have a meeting with the president of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare.

Ethiopia has already expressed its willingness to work with Axworthy, but its rejection of the border commission’s decision has led to the indefinite delay of the physical demarcation of the frontier.

“There is prospect of a piecemeal demarcation this year,” said Axworthy.

“They (Ethiopia and Eritrea) need to enter into dialogue at a certain point … I will see all possible avenues to avoid any open conflict,” he added.

A Western diplomat here said he believed Eritrea’s opposition to the UN border mediation initiative will not last long.

“The current reservation on their (Eritrean) side looks just like a temporary political and diplomatic move for the consumption of their people,” said the diplomat, who pointed out that Annan could not have appointed Axworthy without first consulting Asmara.

According to Ethiopian historian Medhanie Taddesse, dialogue is of the essence in the border conflict.

“Eritreans should not focus on short term political gain. They have to focus on the long-term solution.

“Even if Ethiopia agrees to go ahead with the demarcation they need to sit at a round table to discus the modalities of implementation on the ground,” said Medhanie.

The United Nations mission has more than 4,000 troops under its command in the region, deployed in a buffer zone that runs along the Eritrean side of the border.