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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
ERITREA: Interview with recalled AU ambassador Salih Omer
ADDIS ABABA, 21 November 2003 (IRIN) - Eritrea has recalled its Ethiopia-based ambassador Salih Omer from the African Union (AU) in protest over the unresolved border dispute between the two countries. Here Salih - who has been in Ethiopia since 1992 and AU ambassador since 2001 - tells IRIN of the implications for the three year-old peace process, and why the international community must continue to pressure Ethiopia to implement the stalled demarcation process.
QUESTION: What does your recall mean for the peace process?
ANSWER: You should appreciate the magnanimity of my government which has exercised maximum restraint and tolerance for a long time. All these violations by Ethiopia – the AU has done nothing to help avoid them or to correct them. And now the European Union has come with a declaration urging Ethiopia to implement the decision, the UN has come with a declaration, but the AU is silent. As one of the guarantors of the peace process this is a weakness. Up to now they have not said a thing. This is what has really frustrated my government.
Q: Is Eritrea withdrawing its membership of the AU?
A: One thing you have to understand is that we are not withdrawing from membership of the AU. We are now lacking a representative for the time being. Since I was the sole representative and I am leaving, now we do not have a representative. We are closing the embassy because it is a one-man orchestra, a one-man show.
Q: Do you think there is now a possibility of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea?
A: Don’t you think we have to wait and see? Now we are insisting that the international community puts pressure on Ethiopia so that they comply, accept, agree, and be ready to implement the decision. This is something you cannot prejudge...
The relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have already deteriorated. There was a conflict, a war; it worsened when the Ethiopian government closed their embassy in Asmara. But our government didn’t react. What we are really struggling for, the Eritreans, the Diaspora, [we] are not complaining but reminding the international community to call a spade a spade and for the
international community to act.
Q: Do you feel Eritrea could legitimately enter Badme [flashpoint of the war, awarded to Eritrea by the boundary commission]?
A: You are aware that this decision has already proven that Badme is Eritrean territory and the international community has confirmed it. They are following the decision of the EEBC [Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission set up to demarcate the contested border]. It is clear from the letters of the EU, the UN Security Council that there would not be any change. This decision is no more the sole Eritrean decision - it is an international decision. It is up to all of us to uphold international law.
You have to understand it is not a matter of using force. To avoid that, we have already sat around the table and this decision has already come into being. The international community, the Security Council and the others, all peace-loving countries should join in helping implement this decision.
Q: But how limited is your patience? How long can Eritrea wait?
A: For instance the action that my government has already taken towards the AU is something they have not taken all of a sudden. They have already written a letter to the AU chairperson telling him it has failed to take disciplinary measures. And since there was no reaction from the AU, they have had to take that action. The president [Isayas Afewerki] wrote this to the chairperson. This was sent five days ago.
Q: Should the international community be concerned by this decision?
A: I would rather say yes. The blame should fall on the AU, and the international community will advise the AU to carry out its mandate.
I have seen that the international community has been looking on this matter very seriously in reaching their position, supporting the decision of the EEBC, supporting the resolution of the UN Security Council and really doing its level best.
Q: What do you think is the problem with the AU? Why are they ignoring your plea?
A: This isn’t just Eritrea’s plea, this is an international plea, but unfortunately the AU has so far not acted courageously or had the guts to come and call a spade a spade. The AU should have taken a lead. Unfortunately the UN is doing the job of the AU and this is a weakness of the AU to carry out its mandate.
Q: Would you like the AU to impose some kind of sanctions?
A: There is an article that empowers both the AU and the UN to take punitive measures if either or both parities violate the agreement. The kind of sanctions is up to them. The Ethiopians are taking an intransigent position because they are getting lavish development assistance.
Q: Is there a sense from Eritrea that the AU is being soft on Ethiopia because it is based in Addis Ababa?
A: That is something we cannot rule out. In fact I had the opportunity to discuss with the chairperson of the AU and raise this issue. They should say something about what is happening on the ground. This is not the first time we believe the Ethiopians have violated the agreement. If they do not comply and respect international law they have agreed upon, why should the AU headquarters be here?
Q: Why is Eritrea opposed to dialogue?
A: The Ethiopians are insisting to talk on issues they lost in the verdict. For the sake of Ethiopia we are not going to come and talk on this matter. It is a dead issue. It was a final and binding ruling, and all countries support this. Dialogue on what? The Ethiopians are saying we need to have dialogue on the boundary commission. They have already come with an alternative mechanism – this alternative mechanism is to transfer power from the boundary commission to the UN Security Council and this is like going back to square one – or just opening a Pandora’s box...
One thing we have to understand is we do not want to sacrifice our people, our territory, or our position for the sake of preventing anything which could happen in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government has invoked domestic reasons for violating international law. They say they cannot accept the decision because the people will not accept it or there will be political crisis or civil war. This is unjustifiable because the people of Ethiopia are civilised people. Eritrea has a legal and moral high ground but we don’t want to sit with the Ethiopians now and raise the situation of the border which has been decided by a neutral and independent commission. They have given a verdict.
Q: Does your departure signal that the two countries have never been further apart?
A: The Ethiopian government closed its embassy in January. We did not respond. Now unfortunately due to the failure of the AU, this has happened. This deterioration is due to the host country [Ethiopia] and the AU. I wouldn’t say we are further apart. I wouldn’t say my departure will aggravate the situation. But I am sure this will alert the international community, the AU, to at least reconsider their obligations.
Themes: (IRIN) Conflict
[ENDS]
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