SECURING A LASTING PEACE BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

By Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
and
Amara Essy, Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity

After fighting a tragic and bloody border war, which lasted over two years, killing scores of thousands of people and displacing hundreds of thousands more, Ethiopia and Eritrea demonstrated a desire to put an end to the hostilities by signing a ceasefire agreement in Algiers on 18 June 2000. Six months later, they signed a comprehensive peace agreement, also in Algiers, providing, among other things, for a permanent cessation of hostilities and the establishment of an independent commission to decide the border question. The continued commitment of the two countries to the spirit of these agreements has been encouraging. Welcome too is their commitment to work closely with the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity in implementing the agreements. The peoples of both countries can now look forward to peace and security within their borders and, once again, to cordial relations with each other.

Steady progress has been made since the agreements were formulated under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity. In July 2000, the United Nations deployed the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) to monitor the ceasefire and assist in ensuring observance of security commitments. This peacekeeping operation consists of some 4,000 military personnel from 40 countries. Since the deployment of UNMEE, the armed forces of the two countries have been separated by a temporary and demilitarised security zone, contributing to stability in the area and the return of the people displaced by the conflict. The parties are now able to begin focusing their attention on reconstruction and development.

We are about to reach an important milestone of the peace process. Having considered pertinent colonial treaties and applicable international law as well as evidence provided by the two parties, the Boundary Commission will announce its decision on the delimitation of the border on 13 April. We salute the parties' continued and consistent re-affirmation that they will accept the decision of the Boundary Commission as "final and binding", as called for in the Algiers peace agreement. We take this as a clear manifestation of their desire for a final settlement and yearning for a lasting peace. The successful conclusion of the peace process on the basis of a legal settlement of the conflict will set an example for the rest of the African continent, and indeed the whole international community.

Once the Commission's decision is known, it is imperative that the two countries implement it without delay. This message was recently underscored by a mission of the United Nations Security Council, whose members undertook a visit to Ethiopia and Eritrea in February this year. During its meetings with both sides, the mission encouraged the parties to stay the course of peace. It also emphasized to the leaders of the two countries the Security Council's commitment to play an active role until lasting peace is achieved.

The Boundary Commission's decision will only be one step in the resolution of the border conflict. After delimitation (essentially a line on a map) comes demarcation, which is the process of physically erecting boundary pillars on the ground. In the Algiers agreements, the parties have promised to respect the security arrangements throughout this process, with the continued monitoring of their compliance by UNMEE. The peacekeeping mission will also assist with de-mining in the border areas. The international community will be called upon to provide necessary resources to bring about the rapid completion of the demarcation process. In the event that delimitation results in the transfer of territory, it is our fervent hope that any movement of population and civil administration will be carried out in an orderly and peaceful fashion, assisted by and in cooperation with UNMEE.

As implementation of the Boundary Commission's decision proceeds on the ground, it will be equally important to continue assisting the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia to overcome their humanitarian difficulties. We appeal to donor countries to extend maximum political and financial support to the two countries in their efforts towards socio-economic reconstruction and development.

In the same vein, we recognize that the two parties will also need assistance to attain the ultimate objective of the peace process, namely, reconciliation between their two peoples and normalization of their bilateral relations. The international community, especially those countries that have expressed a particular interest in this region, must continue to engage the two governments in the post-demarcation phase, particularly on the basis of the historical and traditional bonds that tie the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia and the common values and norms they share, including social and religious beliefs. An effort must also be made to identify and support joint programmes and projects that would be beneficial to both countries. In this regard, the continued engagement by United Nations agencies and programmes in activities at the level of the populations affected by the war could go a long way in supporting reconciliation and dialogue.

The consolidation of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea has made great strides, but this is a work in progress. There are many actors in these efforts. The parties themselves have the major role. But the assistance of others is also required to help the two countries overcome the hostility and bitterness that has divided them in the past.