News Release - Thursday 25th November 2004

Ethiopia Accepts Boundary Commission Decision 'In Principle'

 

The following announcement was made by the House of People's Representatives this morning. Click here to see this document in Amharic.

 

DECISION ON THE FIVE – POINT PROPOSAL FOR RESOLVING THE DISPUTE BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

 

The House of Peoples’ Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia having discussed in detail the five-point peace proposal submitted to it by H.E. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi;-

 

Realizing that the desire for sustainable peace of the peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea can only be achieved when the present no war no peace situation is replaced with a lasting and durable peace between the two countries ;

 

Cognizant that the resolution of all disputes between neighboring countries by peaceful means only and through negotiation is the only guarantee for lasting peace and for promoting mutual interests;

 

Reiterating  Ethiopia's conviction which remains unchanged  that the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission was flawed, but nonetheless realizing that nothing is more  important than the achievement of lasting peace between the two counties; and

 

Convinced that the establishment of a lasting peace between the two countries will make significant contribution for making the Horn of Africa a peaceful region;

 

Has hereby adopted the following five-point peace proposal:

 

  1. Resolve the dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea only and only through peaceful means.

 

  1. Resolve the root causes of the conflict through dialogue with the view to normalizing relations between the two countries.

 

  1. Ethiopia accepts, in principle, the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission decision.

 

  1. Ethiopia agrees to pay its dues to the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission and to appoint field liaison officers.

 

  1. Start dialogue immediately with the view to implementing the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission’s decision in a manner consistent with the promotion of sustainable peace and brotherly ties between the two peoples.

                                                                                                      

                                                                                              25 November 2004

 

ENDS