Global Policy Forum

Asmara

The following is the transcript of the press conference by the Chairperson of the Security Council Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ambassaor Ole Peter Kolby of Norway in the Eritrean capital, via a videoconference linking Asmara and Addis Ababa. This press conference was attended by all fifteen members of the Security Council delegation and Ambassador Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Ethiopia and Eritrea. It was conducted by Marie Okabe, Spokesperson traveling with the Security Council Mission and Jean Victor Nkolo, Spokesman and Chief of Public Information, UNMEE.

Ambassador Kolby: The United Nations Security Council Mission came to Ethiopia and Eritrea to express our unwavering support for the peace process. The two countries entered into an agreement in Algiers and now we would like to assist them in the implementation of that agreement.

You know that both countries' leaders have expressed that they will abide by the decision of the Boundary Commission, that is imminent. We have stressed in our meeting the need to secure an effective implementation of that decision and these are among the issues that we have discussed with the two leaders.

You should also know that we have visited the Temporary Security Zone and that we have also crossed the bridge between the two countries. It is our hope that this decision of the Boundary Commission will initiate a new phase in the peace process. We the United Nations would like to assist the two parties in moving forward from the past to peace.

Question & Answer:

Q [Asmara]: You said that both sides are willing in principle to accept the agreement [of the Boundary Commission] but we have heard concerns from Ethiopia saying that they will not accept the decision if it based on appeasement and compromise. They talked about areas like Zalambessa, Ayga and Alitena. And also on the Eritrean side the Eritrean President said if it based purely on the colonial treaties they will accept it, but the Boundary Commission are looking at other reasons and other issues such as adminstration, etc. So, are they saying no matter what the cost they will accept no matter what the decision is or are there conditions attached?

Ambassador Kolby: Under the Algiers Agreement the two parties have committed themselves that the decision of the Boundary Commission is final and it is binding. And that is also the message from the Security Council. We would like to support them in implementing that.

Q [Asmara]: But there seems to be conditions attached on both sides.

Ambassador Kolby: The Boundary Commission is not yet there. We don't know what the contents of their decision will be but they have said they will accept it and on that basis we will proceed.

Q [Addis Ababa] In a recent interview with the VOA, you have mentioned that the outstanding issues regarding the Peace Process are release of prisoners of war, including civilians and demining. Have you made any efforts to resolve them?

Ambassador Kolby: We have raised with the leaders from both sides the question of the prisoners of war and have encouraged them to release them without any further delay. On the question of de-mining, this is very much high on the agenda. I think now when the decision of the Boundary Commission has been handed down then we will be able to make even more progress in that area. Then we are to embark on a process of demarcation of the boundary between the two countries and in this respect, of course, de-mining is of crucial importance. We have reminded the two parties that it is their responsibility to undertake the de-mining but we have also expressed the support of the international community to assist them in this matter.

Q [Asmara]: I would like to ask how concerned the Secretary-General is in general over the state of the peace process, and the commitment of both sides to it in light of the following: Meles' criticism of Eritrea; Eritrea's apparent infringement in the letter or spirit of the process; Eritrea's similar position today regarding the Temporary Security Zone and other issues. Secondly, yesterday the absence of a significant Ethiopian delegation at the Mereb River Bridge. Thirdly, the remarks by the Tigray Speaker of Parliament saying they will not accept the Commission's ruling if they don't like it. And fourthly, the presence in the demilitarized zone of some 9,000 armed men.

Ambassador Kolby: Well, I think that what is important is that we know that there are apprehensions from both sides, and they have their various points of view. But what I think is most important here is that both leaders have in their meetings with us, stressed that they would like to work with the United Nations to secure the implementation of the Boundary Commission's decision, and this, I think is what we should focus on.

Q [Asmara]: Both Ethiopia and Eritrea have levelled criticisms at the UN's peacekeeping role. Does this surprise you, are you disappointed by their criticisms, and what do you think you are doing wrong?

Ambassador Kolby: Well, I think, again, I would say that they expressed their views, but they also said that they will continue to cooperate with the United Nations in the steps ahead, and I think that is what we really should focus on. Their readiness and eagerness which was expressed again today, and also last time, when we were in Addis, that they would also like to cooperate with the UN.

Q [Asmara]: About a month ago, Special Representative Legwaila, when he was in Oslo, said that the earliest withdrawal of UNMEE troops would be early 2004. Now today, President Isaias says that it would be within a matter of months after the decision from the Boundary Commission. Could you comment on that please?

SRSG Legwaila: Well, the Press Conference is for the Chairman of the Security Council Mission.

Q [Asmara]: Would you like to make a comment on that, Ambassador Kolby?

Ambassador Kolby: Well, I would not like to comment on that, but what I will say is that I think what is important is what has happened here during this mission, and this is that both leaders have committed themselves to sit down with the Special Representative to work out the modalities relating to the implementation of the decision that has been taken.

Q [Asmara]: Ethiopia has not fully withdrawn its troops from the area proposed as the TSZ. As a result, about 60,000 Eritrean civilians have not yet returned to their villages. Why does UNMEE fail in this matter?

Ambassador Kolby: As I said, soon now we will have the decision of the Boundary Commission. Then we will know where the Boundary will be, and then we have to start demarcating it. And I think that the best way to assist the peoples on both sides is to secure an early implementation of the decision, that should be handed down. And this is what we strive for here at the United Nations, and we have encouraged the two parties to move ahead rapidly, and I feel that we have gotten their assurances during our visit here to these two countries. And we have also, on the part of the UN side, encouraged them to move beyond that, also to try and work in the area of confidence-building measures, and that they both should now look to the future and try to build a better country for the people of the two countries. It is the future that we should focus on, and not too much on the past.

Q [Asmara]: From the Eritrean statement, which says they want to see the back of UNMEE in the next few months, does that mean that the President of Eritrea - did he say that they want UNMEE's withdrawal before demarcation is physically done or they don't see that the UN needs to be here for the demarcation?

Ambassador Kolby: I think, that regarding what President Isaias said, you really have to ask him, and I should not convey what his point is. The President expressed to us his readiness and eagerness to work with United Nations on how to ensure the implementation of the decision that would be handed down. And that I think, is a very positive statement, and we will use that as a basis for our future work.

Q [Asmara]: Sir, it seems that you don't seem to be answering the question of my colleague. It sounds like Eritrea wants UNMEE to leave as soon as possible, and it suggests that perhaps Eritreans are likely to take over certain areas that are currently under Ethiopian administration if indeed they are given to Eritrea. How do you respond to that? Are we going to see Eritrean troops, or the Eritrean administration moving into these areas? Because his statement is very strong and very clear.

Ambassador Kolby: I cannot speculate what the Eritreans will do. We have sent the message to both parties, that they should all refrain from any unilateral action, and it's very important to have an orderly process. Again, I am just emphasizing what they said, that they were ready to engage in a process of dialogue with us on the implementation of the agreement. And I say again - let's look to the future.

Q [Asmara]: But there is a gap - the President is saying "a few months", and UNMEE is talking in terms of years.

Ambassador Kolby: Well, of course, both sides here have their points of view, and this is what we will try and reconcile in the implementation process.

Q [Asmara]: How long do you envisage UNMEE staying along the border?

Ambassador Kolby: This we are going to work out. First, we have to know what are the findings of the Boundary Commission. Let's take first things first here.

SRSG Legwaila: Read the mandate of UNMEE. I think you are just torturing the Chairman for nothing. Read the mandate of UNMEE. He is not going to violate the mandate of UNMEE, which was given to UNMEE by the Security Council. And read the Agreements - contrast the Agreements with the mandate of UNMEE, you will know, according to the Agreements and according to the mandate, when UNMEE is supposed to terminate its mission.

Q [Asmara]: I think the point we are trying to make here is that there seems to be a contradiction between that mandate and the remarks from the Eritrean position.

SRSG Legwaila: The contradiction does not come from the Chairman of the Security Council Mission. UNMEE is here to implement the Agreements, and we have been told that we must implement the Agreements and not violate them.

For additional information please contact:

Jean Victor Nkolo, Spokesman and Chief, Public Information Office UNMEE Headquarters Addis Ababa, telephone: 251-1-443396; or UNMEE Headquarters Asmara, telephone: 291-1-150411 or our tie-line in New York: 00-1-212-963-3779 (E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

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