Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict more than just a border
Posted Tue, 28 Mar 2006

Addis Ababa - The Ethiopia-Eritrea boundary dispute was not the only cause of the conflict that is keeping relations between the two neighbouring countries frosty for the last eight years, according to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Speaking on Tuesday in parliament, Meles, however, did not explain the other causes for the strained relations.

He said Ethiopia had made its position clear on the need to resolve all other sources of the conflict through dialogue in order to achieve sustainable peace.

In his opinion, the decision of the international Boundary Commission, that in part awarded the rocky Badme location to Eritrea, was flawed.

Because of the necessity to implement the decision in a manner that would ensure lasting peace, Meles said: "We have expressed our strong conviction on the need for dialogue for the implementation of the decision."

He praised various efforts by the international community to help resolve the dispute peacefully, singling out the initiative taken by the United States as exemplary and commendable.

"Following that initiative, the witnesses to the Algiers Agreement held a meeting and forwarded a proposal, which they believed would enable the peaceful resolution of the dispute.

"This proposal, among other things, recognises the need for dialogue to implement the decision," Meles pointed out.

Under the Algiers Agreement, signed in December 2000, Eritrea and Ethiopia committed themselves to end hostilities after a two-year border war.

In line with the US-led process, the Boundary Commission recently convened a meeting in London with representatives of Eritrea and Ethiopia.

"Even though the meeting by itself can be mentioned as a positive step, it did not achieve a breakthrough," Meles stated.

He blamed the Eritrean government for frustrating this initiative by insisting on "the mechanical implementation of the decision without any dialogue."

Meles explained Eritrea's insistence as emanating "from its habitual rigidity and lack of readiness to show any flexibility."

Promising to maintain an open mind to proposals that would advance the peace process, Meles affirmed that Ethiopia would make the necessary effort to deter Eritrea from initiating armed conflict.

In the event that the other side resorted to armed conflict, Meles bluntly warned that Ethiopia would ensure a lasting resolution of the dispute. -panapress