EDITORIAL

Ethiopia One Again Showed its Readiness to Bring About Durable Peace in the Horn of Africa

Ethiopia and Eritrea entered into a boundary dispute following the unprovoked aggression of the Eritrean government in May 1998. The Eritrean Government not only forcefully occupied Ethiopian territories but also refused to resolve the problem in a peaceful and legal means.

As the Eritrean government had turned a deaf ear for a number of peace efforts by both the Ethiopian government and the international community at large, Ethiopia was unwillingly pushed to the war which claimed thousands of lives from both sides and which also ate up a great deal of scarce and much needed resource that could have otherwise greatly contributed to development efforts.

Though the war was concluded with full triumph of the Ethiopian side, Ethiopia did not want to remain in the Eritrean territory as self-defense was Ethiopia’s one and only aim of going to war. It rather immediately showed keen interest to settle the conflict once and for all through legal and peaceful deal.

It was with this commitment that Ethiopia signed the Algiers peace accord. It has always wanted to put an end to all hostilities and restore friendly relations with Eritrea accordingly. In so doing, Ethiopia also hoped to get justice from the Ethiopia-Eritrea Border Commission (EEBC) as it had every legitimate ground to defend its sovereignty. The Border Commission has, however, failed to pass discreet and just decision that would bring an end to the turmoil pertaining to the conflict.

Thus, Ethiopia has been tirelessly appealing for justice to the international community by presenting sound and killer evidence as to the unjust and illegal nature of the EEBC decision. Though that appeal is still justifiable, Ethiopia has never failed to do its level best to abide by the rule of law. And in the face of the Boundary Commission’s unjust and illegal ruling, Ethiopia still maintains the path of durable and sustainable peace by ruling out the use of force.

The five-point new peace initiative proposed by the Ethiopian government which the House of People’s Representatives’ endorsed is a clear demonstration of the level of commitment to peace on the part of the Ethiopian government. As Prime Minister Meles Zenawi clearly indicated in his report to the House, though the Border Commission’s decision is unjust and illegal, Ethiopia decided to accept the decision in principle.

The first point of this bold initiative reaffirms Ethiopia’s commitment to peaceful resolution of the dispute as Ethiopia has always opted for the peaceful means of resolution since the beginning of the conflict. The second point of the peace plan deals with tackling the root causes of the conflict through dialogue with a view to normalizing relation between the two countries. Normalization and good neighborliness between the two countries, as pointed out by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, was the interest of peace and in their mutual benefits. And the third point emphasizes Ethiopia’s consent to accept in principle the decision of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission (EEBC).

As a fourth point of the peace plan, Ethiopia agrees to pay its dues to the EEBC and to appoint field liaison officers. The last facet in the five-point initiative calls for starting dialogue immediately to implement the commission’s decision in a manner consistent with the promotion of sustainable peace and brotherly ties between the peoples of the two countries.

This new peace initiative as such is capable of making not only Ethiopia and Eritrea but also the Horn of Africa a region of durable peace. Ethiopia once again showed the world its readiness to travel more than half way long to bring about durable peace in the Horn of Africa. In the face of the Boundary Commission’s unjust and illegal decision, Ethiopia showed its unreserved commitment for peace. This has been done in the expectation and hope that the new peace plan will open door for negotiations and help to bring lasting solution to the border dispute and therefore it needs to be taken with full certitude by all concerned parties.

The peace proposal so far has received a strong support from most of the international community. Several countries all over the world including United nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU), Russia, China, Britain and many others supported Ethiopia’s New peace plan.

The new initiative would hopefully serve as a roadmap to help the two countries end their hostilities and concentrate on the pressing agenda of fighting poverty and backwardness.