From: Sophia Tesfamariam (sophia_tesfamariam@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Aug 19 2009 - 11:43:51 EDT
According to the Algiers Agreements, three Commissions were supposed to be established:
1. Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission to delimit and demarcate the Eritrea Ethiopia border in accordance with colonial treaties and international law
2. Eritrea Ethiopia claims Commission to to decide through binding arbitration all claims for loss, damage or injury by one Government against the other, and by nationals of one party against the Government of the other party or entities owned or controlled by the other party that were (a) related to the conflict, and (b) resulted from violations of international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions, or other violations of international law.
The Commission would not hear claims arising from the cost of military operations, preparing for military operations, or the use of force, except to the extent that such claims involve violations of international humanitarian law.
3. In order to determine the origins of the conflict, an investigation will be carried out on the incidents of 6 May 1998 and on any other incident prior to that date which could have contributed to a misunderstanding between the parties regarding their common border, including the incidents of July and August 1997…The investigation will be carried out by an independent, impartial body appointed by the Secretary General of the OAU, in consultation with the Secretary General of the United Nations and the two parties.
It was obvious in 2005 that the US was intent on reversing the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission's decision, even though it was final and binding, and Jendayi E. Frazier, the Us Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs did everything in her power to change the EEBC decision. Fortunately, the EEBC remained true to its mandate and maintained its integrity. It finished its work with its credibility and integrity intact. Too bad the same cannot be said about the Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission who seem to have succumbed to pressures and put politics before justice.
It will not surprise anyone, especially Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis if the international law and the UN Charter are circumvented in order to advance the interests of certain quarters. After all, we have yet to see the “ton of bricks” dropped on Meles Zenawi and his regime for their numerous violations of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
The minority regime in Ethiopia is occupying sovereign Eritrean territories in violation of international law. It has invaded and occupied Somalia for over two years and has committed international crimes in that country as it is doing in the occupied Eritrean territories. It is also committing international crimes in the Gambela, Ogaden, and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. This genocidal regime does not have the moral authority to talk about justice and peace. As for the VoA, no surprises there either. We could say that the VoA should have produced a more balanced report…but that would mean too much like asking it to be fair and impartial.