ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: The focus in the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict must now turn towards the future, an Irish diplomat has told the United Nations Security Council.
The deputy head of Ireland's UN Mission in New York, Ambassador Gerard Corr, strongly commended both countries for putting the war behind them and focusing on "the pressing humanitarian and development needs of their people".
Mr Corr, who was a participant in a Security Council mission to the region from February 20th-25th, said: "It was quite clear from our meetings with the political and religious leaders, the UN country teams, representatives of the World Bank and civil society and Non-Governmental Organisations in both countries, that the focus now must turn towards the future, and the longer-term rehabilitation and development of both Ethiopia and Eritrea."
The fact that both Governments had committed themselves to implementation of the determination of the Boundary Commission was to be strongly commended, Ambassador Corr said.
He added: "The determination of the Boundary Commission should be implemented quickly, in a co-ordinated and orderly fashion. When signing the Algiers Agreement, both parties rightly recognised the assistance that the UN can offer in that process. We strongly encourage both parties to cooperate fully with the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in developing, as quickly as possible, a common understanding of the steps to be taken, and to elaborate the appropriate institutional arrangements to ensure that stability prevails and that further human suffering is minimised."
It was widely recognised that the demarcation process would require a massive de-mining effort. "While primary responsibility for this task lies with the parties, we would support the Secretary General in considering what practical role UNMEE could play to expedite this work. After all, it is clear under the Algiers Agreement that UNMEE's mandate will not be completed until such time as demarcation is complete. Ireland is prepared to consider any recommendations regarding the mandate of UNMEE that implementation of the Boundary Commission decision will necessitate.
"We commend the dedication of the men and women working with UNMEE and their contribution to the peace process. In particular, I would like to emphasise our full support for the untiring efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr Legwaila, and the Force Commander, and we encourage the parties to cooperate fully with them in the coming phase."
He reconfirmed "Ireland's support for, and friendship with" both Eritrea and Ethiopia. "The presence of over 200 Irish troops in UNMEE, and our long-term commitment to development in the region, are illustrative of our confidence that both parties will take this historic opportunity to turn from a difficult past work together towards a better future for their people," Mr Corr concluded.
Since Eritrea's independence in 1993, Eritrea and Ethiopia have disagreed about the exact demarcation of their border.
In May 1998, border clashes began which developed into a full-scale war which left tens of thousands dead and further destroyed both countries' ailing economies.
After a costly and bloody two-year war, a permanent ceasefire was reached in June 2000 - Ethiopia had the upper hand when the fighting ceased - and a formal peace agreement was signed in December 2000.
The UN has provided several thousand peacekeeping forces including about 220 Irish troops to patrol the 25-km wide temporary security zone within Eritrea until a joint boundary commission delimits and demarcates a final boundary.
The peace accord provides for UN-assisted arbitration and demarcation of the border. Each side appointed two legal experts to the boundary commission and there is a UN-appointed president, Sir Elihu Lauterpacht.
The commission is expected to issue its report on April 13th in The Hague.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, is due to visit the region next week.