In progress at UNHQ

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ETHIOPIA, ERITREA

03/02/2004
Press Briefing

                                                            3 February 2004


PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ETHIOPIA, ERITREA


Demarcation of the border remained a fundamental requirement for the successful completion of the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea and, without it, the peacekeeping operation there could not be considered a success, correspondents here told today at a Headquarters press briefing.


Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Ethiopia and Eritrea, said that while the work of the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) had been highly productive, the stalemated process of demarcation of the border between the two countries was a source of serious concern.


[The fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea had erupted in May 1998 as a result of a border dispute, and the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was established after the two sides signed an Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities on 18 June 2000 in Algiers, Algeria.  Further negotiations resulted in the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement on 12 December 2000, also in Algiers.  On 14 August 2002, the Security Council adjusted the Mission’s mandate to assist in the expeditious and orderly implementation of the 13 April Delimitation Decision of the Boundary Commission.]


Mr. Legwaila recalled that originally the parties had immediately accepted the Boundary Commission’s decision.  However, last September, Ethiopia had “found something wrong” with it and informed the United Nations that it could not cooperate in the demarcation of the border “as is”.  In other words, the success of the peacekeeping operation in Ethiopia and Eritrea since September 2000 had been spoiled by the failure to demarcate the border, which was the sole responsibility of the Boundary Commission working out of The Hague, he said.


The international community was trying to resolve the situation, he continued, and a few days ago the Secretary-General had appointed a Special Envoy -– former Foreign Minister of Canada Lloyd Axworthy –- to deal with the problems caused by the non-demarcation of the border.


Asked about the possibility of a resurgence of the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Mr. Legwaila said that the situation was not stable and the very existence of the stalemate created tension.  The situation was particularly dangerous, as the international community was dealing with two countries that had fought a terrible war in which more than 100,000 people had been killed.  At present, however, there were no indications that there would be a resumption of hostilities.


“We are watching the situation; we are on the ground; we are monitoring the Temporary Security Zone”, he concluded.  “The forces of the two sides remain separated and remain respectful of the Temporary Security Zone, which it is our responsibility to manage.”


“What would be your advice to Lloyd Axworthy?” a correspondent asked.  To that, the Special Representative replied that he had not yet made up his mind, but he would certainly have some advice when he saw him in person, for he had been there for more than three years.


To a question about child soldiers, he said that some of the problems that bedevilled peacekeeping operations elsewhere were absent in Ethiopia and Eritrea, including the issue of child soldiers.  The international community was dealing with two disciplined armies there, which consisted of soldiers who were of legal age.


Asked to describe the United Nations presence, he said that there were close to 4,200 United Nations soldiers who were monitoring the Temporary Security Zone.  There were three battalions:  a Kenyan battalion in the east, an Indian battalion in the centre, and a Jordanian battalion in the west.  The Mission’s personnel were not responsible for the demarcation of the border, however.  That was the responsibility of the parties and the Boundary Commission.  The UNMEE had only been asked to help the Commission in demining and to provide logistics and office space.


To a question about the significance of a town of Badme in the demarcation process, he said that the place had political significance.  That was where he had been told the war had started and where many lives had been lost.  Therefore, it had symbolic importance to both Ethiopia and Eritrea.  He had also been told that whoever lost Badme would have lost the war of propaganda -- “that is, if you lose Badme then you have been declared the aggressor in the war.  If you win Badme, then you are the aggressed”.


Responding to a query about Liberia and Sierra Leone, he added that the fates of those two countries were intertwined.  As Sierra Leone had finally been stabilized, it would be tragic “to have chaos next door” in Liberia.  That would affect the stability that the international community had worked so hard to create.  Therefore, it was important to pacify and stabilize Liberia.


* *** *

For information media. Not an official record.