Asmara, March 3, 2008
In the last few weeks the UN Secretariat has been engaged in an unwarranted negative press and diplomatic campaign against Eritrea. In spite of the provocations, the Government of Eritrea has opted to engage constructively with the UN Secretariat avoiding being marred in this senseless media game.
The aim of tarnishing Eritrea’s image with accusations is part of the strategy to deflect the attention from Ethiopia’s occupation of sovereign Eritrean territory and to penalize Eritrea for its firm legal stance concerning the final and binding demarcation of the border with Ethiopia. It is astonishing however why the UN Secretariat is abandoning its neutrality and serving the wishes of Ethiopia and its cohorts.
This partiality and subservience on the part of the UN and the Security Council to the needs of Ethiopia and its patrons started long ago. In 2003 Ethiopia publicly rejected the “final and binding” decision of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EBBC) by denouncing it as “illegal, unjust and irresponsible” and requested the Security Council to create “alternative mechanism”. The Security Council should have condemned this gross violation of the Algiers Agreement and immediately endorsed measures to ensure compliance with the terms of the Agreement and maintain its integrity. Regrettably, the UNSC not only ignored these fundamental parts of the treaty but also sought to placate Ethiopia by endorsing “Special Envoys”. Even at this late hour, after the EEBC has formally submitted its Demarcation Decision to the Parties, the Security Council, as exemplified in its Resolution 1798 (2008) continues to allude to the “good offices” of the UN Secretary General instead of taking action to force Ethiopia to withdraw from sovereign Eritrean territories.
The Government of Eritrea firmly believes that any “alternative mechanisms” and “Special Envoys” related to the legally resolved border issue are irrelevant, unacceptable and could set a dangerous precedent in international law. The temporary “relocation” of the UN Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) which came under the pretext of fuel shortage, and the ensuing media and diplomatic campaign against Eritrea on this regard are just part of Ethiopia’s appeasers reaction to Eritrea’s rejection of the slightest derogation from the final and binding demarcation of the border. Consequently, as outlined below what transpired surrounding the temporary “relocation” UNMEE does not justify the criticisms leveled against Eritrea.
Eritrea, as a sovereign country, a primary party to the Agreement which led to the creation of UNMEE and a host to the peacekeeping mission, should have been provided in advance with the details of any changes in the status of the mission and the mission’s major movements outside its area of responsibility. However, notifications and Note Verbales from UNMEE on these issues have been incomplete at best and annoying and provocative at worst.
The Government of Eritrea was notified that UNMEE had decided to relocate to Ethiopia on the afternoon of 12 February for relocation that was supposed to occur on the morning of 13 February. The Note Verbale that was sent by UNMEE did not include any details on the scope and duration of relocation; legal explanation of its implications to UNMEE’s original deployment in terms of the provisions of the Algiers Agreement; logistical details in terms of route and other vital information.
The UNMEE Force Commander (FC) further informed Eritrean Government authorities in Asmara that relocation would be for the contingent on sector west to move to Badme; from the center to Zalambesa and from the east to Bure. The FC had no answer when asked how they could contemplate moving troops to Badme if this was relocation to Ethiopia. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) later denied and retracted the information.
Concerning the “regrouping” of members of the Mission to Asmara, the DPKO/UNMEE informed the Government of Eritrea about the matter on February 22nd when the bulk of the troops had already arrived. The Government of Eritrea was not provided in advance with the plan for the movement, handling of the Mission’s heavy equipment and other necessary details.
Following this the Eritrean Government approached the DPKO to know the UN’s plans concerning UNMEE, however no such information has been forthcoming. Rather the DPKO is sending conflicting messages. In one Note Verable the DPKO asks for fuel supply and lifting of restriction of movements for UNMEE to go back to their original sites. Another Note Verbale written on the same day, asks Eritrean Government to take custody of the “equipments” UNMEE may have left on the sites – with no details. The other two Note Verbales sent on the 27th of February list the posts from which they have already withdrawn and requests for Eritrean Government to give assurances that UNMEE could use the ports and airports in the country in the event that they decide to withdraw their troops and equipment.
The negative press and diplomatic campaign they have been making is not justified and acceptable. The Secretary-General accused Eritrea at the AU Summit in Addis Abeba without even mentioning Ethiopia’s refusal to abide by its treaty obligations. DPKO and especially UNMEE in Addis Abeba have been spreading poisonous information claiming that the lives of UNMEE’s troops was in danger; they had been denied food supplies; sometimes that they had been forced to regroup; at other times, they were kept hostage and prevented from relocating to Ethiopia. These days, they are claiming that Eritrea intends to requisition the weapons of UNMEE as many people find out that the propaganda of the past few weeks was at variance with the facts.
None of these accusations are based on the facts on the ground. Eritrea has never taken any action that could put the lives of the members of the peacekeeping mission at risk or tampered with their equipment. This whole episode is a manufactured crisis. Washington and Addis Abeba are behind this negative campaign mainly in order to shift the attention from the core issue: Ethiopia’s occupation of Eritrean territories. Indeed, the baseless media campaign has emboldened Ethiopia and it is now demanding the UN Security Council to ‘impose punitive sanctions’ on Eritrea – the victim of its illegal occupation.
The Government of Eritrea regrets the Security Council’s entanglement in tangential issues by ignoring the continued illegal occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories by Ethiopia. The illegal occupation is a real threat to the peace, security and stability of the two countries and the region as a whole. The Government therefore reiterates its call on the Security Council to shoulder its legal responsibility and act decisively to end the occupation in the interest of regional and international peace and security.
Regardless of the campaign of disinformation and intimidation the Government of Eritrea reaffirms that it will hold on to the core issue and the legally concluded final and binding boundary demarcation decision. As to the Secretariat of the UN, the Government-expects the body to communicate in advance detailed plans and related information concerning the status and future of UNMEE.
