Statement Issued by the FDRE Office of the Government Spokesperson

Tuesday, February 29, 2000

One Year After Operation Sunset, Return to Status Quo Ante as Important as Ever

One year ago, the Ethiopian defence forces celebrated the victory of Operation Sunset, which successfully liberated Badme from the invading Eritrean army. The heavily fortified Eritrean trenches, which had been built over a period of several months and were supposedly impenetrable, were broken and overrun in just three short days. Due to the determination of the Ethiopian defence forces, the Eritrean army was totally routed out of the area, the very same area about which President Isaias had said an Eritrean withdrawal was "as unlikely as the sun never rising again."

The Struggle To Survive Continues

Since the liberation of Badme, the residents of the area have been struggling to rebuild, given that most of the infrastructure - including houses, schools and health clinics - was completely destroyed by the invading army. Their struggle to restart their lives has been complicated by the dangers posed by landmines, which Eritrean soldiers planted by the thousands. Worse yet, although Badme was liberated in February 1999, thousands of Ethiopian citizens in other parts of Ethiopia continue to suffer under Eritrean occupation. The Eritrean forces remain in Ethiopian land despite the Ethiopian government's consistent calls for their withdrawal and for a full return to the status quo ante that prevailed prior to 6 May 1998.

Ethiopia Has Always Abided By International Law

After the Eritrean army invaded and occupied various Ethiopian territories in May and June of 1998, Ethiopia demanded the immediate reversal of Eritrea's aggression. Ethiopia's call for a return to the status quo ante was in accordance with deeply held principles of the OAU, as well as fundamental principles of international law, which maintain that borders cannot and must not be changed by force. Moreover, the right of self-defence - in the event of such a violation of a country's territorial integrity - is enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Despite this right to counter Eritrea's attack with force, the Ethiopian government chose instead to pursue a return to the status quo ante through peaceful means. Thus, when the U.S. and Rwandan governments facilitated a peace initiative in June 1998, Ethiopia accepted the proposal because it was true to the principle that there should be an immediate return to the status quo ante. If Eritrea had also accepted the peace plan, the conflict might have stopped there and much destruction of life and property could have been avoided. The Isaias regime, however, rejected the U.S./Rwandan initiative.

Ethiopia Accepts The Framework Agreement – Eritrea Rejects & Attacks

After Eritrea rejected this initiative, Ethiopia took the case to the OAU, which put forth its own peace proposal that was largely based on the U.S./Rwandan plan. Thus, the OAU Framework Agreement for peace also enshrined the belief that borders cannot be changed by force and called for a return to the status quo ante. Being committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, the Ethiopian government accepted the agreement when it was first presented in November 1998. But once again, Eritrea rejected the peace plan, claiming to accept it only after its humiliating defeat at Badme in late February 1999. It quickly became apparent, however, that Eritrea was not truly committed to the peace agreement; after supposedly accepting it, the Isaias regime revealed its true intentions by attempting - repeatedly and unsuccessfully - to recapture Badme. The Eritrean army's largest - albeit futile - offensive to retake Badme (code named "Operation Sunrise") came as late as June, with Eritrean soldiers wearing T-shirts that proclaimed: “Monday, Badme”.

Eritrea’s Insincerity Continually Demonstrated

In July 1999, less than one month after Eritrea's last ill-fated attempt to recapture Badme, the Eritrean government claimed to accept the modalities for the implementation of the Framework Agreement when they were presented at the OAU Summit in Algiers. Likewise, the Isaias regime supposedly accepted the technical arrangements that were put forth in August of that year. Eritrea's commitment to peace, however, was quickly revealed as insincere. While paying lip service to the peace process for the benefit of the international community, Eritrea proceeded to launch another round of forced conscription, initiated military offensives and increased its armed support for terrorists. Just last week, when OAU and U.S. envoys were in the region to mediate peace, the Eritrean army initiated skirmishes at the Bure front while simultaneously, and hypocritically, professing a commitment to the peace process.

All Ethiopia Seeks Is Consistency

For its part, Ethiopia remains determined to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Given this commitment to peace, the Ethiopian government accepted both the OAU's Framework Agreement for peace and the modalities for its implementation, which, being based on the principle that borders cannot be changed by force, call for a full return to the status quo ante. In contrast, the technical arrangements do not guarantee the full restoration of Ethiopia's sovereignty. Given the inconsistencies between the arrangements and the two previous documents, the Ethiopian government has sought clarifications in hopes of securing a lasting peace, which can only be achieved if based on a return to the status quo ante. Moreover, to require anything less, including a full return of the Ethiopian administration that was in place at the time of Eritrea's invasion, would reward aggression and send the message that borders can be changed by force.

Return To The Status Quo Ante Is Vital To Peace

Given Eritrea's tendency to engage in aggressive behaviour (its invasion of Ethiopia is only the latest in a long string of violations against its neighbours; prior to invading Ethiopia, Eritrea initiated assaults against Yemen, the Sudan and Djibouti), it is particularly important that the status quo ante principle be upheld in the case of the Ethio-Eritrean conflict. Not only is Ethiopia's sovereignty and territorial integrity at stake, but the peace and stability of the entire region are also at issue. Thus, as we simultaneously celebrate the one-year anniversary of Badme's liberation and lament the fact that thousands of innocent Ethiopians continue to struggle under foreign occupation, Ethiopia's demand for a full return to the status quo ante is more relevant than ever. As always, war will remain the last line of defence to secure this objective. And the reversal of Eritrea's aggression should be no less important to the countries of the region or even the international community than to Ethiopians themselves.