UN envoy warns that peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea still a long way off
By ANTHONY MITCHELL, Associated Press Writer
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Nov 29, 2004 (AP) — Ethiopia’s recent decision to accept “in principle” an international ruling on the country’s border dispute with Eritrea is only the first step on a long road to peace, according to the United Nations’ special envoy to the Horn of Africa.
Lloyd Axworthy, a former Canadian foreign minister, called on the international community to seize the opportunity created by Ethiopia’s apparent readiness to end the border dispute with Eritrea once and for all.
“If we are not able to get some positive steps or actions in the next two or three weeks I think an opportunity will be missed,” said Axworthy, who is best known for his role in pushing through a global treaty to ban anti-personnel land mines.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a two and a half year border war between 1998 and 2000 that left more than 70,000 people dead. Both countries agreed to a cease-fire and international mediation, including an independent boundary commission whose decision would be final and binding.
Until Nov. 25, Ethiopia had refused to respect the April 2002 ruling by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, part of the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague. The government now says it accepts the ruling “in principle.”
“I am not jumping up and down, but at least there is more traction there than there was,” Axworthy told the Associated Press by telephone late Sunday night. “It could be the beginnings of a new chapter for peace but there has to be another step which is how the two countries begin engagement.”
Axworthy said he was not surprised that Eritrea responded with suspicion to Ethiopia’s announcement, accusing the much larger country of “buying more time” and prolonging the “suffering of the peoples” by not accepting the boundary ruling without reservations.
“The response from the Eritreans wasn’t as hopeful as one would have hoped but at least we have a base to work from,” the UN envoy said. “All along the Eritrean President has said there is no point getting involved until Ethiopia has agreed to work with the decision of the boundary commission and that has now taken place. So the ball is in their court.”
Axworthy said he is sending a team to Ethiopia in the next 10 days to see how they can capitalize on Ethiopia’s offer to work within the boundary commission framework.