Ethiopia says Eritrea breached Security Council resolutions on border dispute

Eritrea must withdraw its troops from the temporary security zone along its border with Ethiopia and renounce the use of force to resolve the conflict between the two nations before genuine dialogue to solve that dispute can begin, Ethiopia’s Ambassador Negash Kebret told the General Assembly today.

Mr. Kebret said that Eritrea has breached several Security Council resolutions and the Algiers Peace Agreement between the two countries by maintaining its armed forces in the zone, which was created by the UN Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) as a demilitarized area.

He said Eritrea has also repeatedly engaged in “flagrant restrictions against UNMEE,” preventing the Mission from carrying out its mandate and arresting or detaining several of its personnel.

“Eritrea should behave as a responsible State and resolve any dispute through diplomatic means. Eritrea has to understand that this is its only option. Its continued dangerous tactics of brinkmanship against many actors in the international community should not be acceptable.”

Mr. Kebret said Ethiopia has been willing to hold talks with Eritrea “and has attended in good faith the meetings convened by the Boundary Commission,” and yet Eritrea has issued ultimatums and refused to participate in Commission meetings.

“Eritrea’s strategic goal is neither peace nor a peaceful common boundary. What it wishes to have is [an] interminable boundary problem with Ethiopia.”