Annan calls for "sober choices" to end stalemate

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has told Ethiopia and Eritrea that "sober choices" must be made if they are to end their potentially dangerous stalemate. In his latest report to the UN Security Council on the progress of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Annan said the four-year-old peace process was unlikely to succeed without flexibility from both sides. He said Asmara and Addis Ababa must explain to their peoples that the deadlock could not be overcome by digging their heels in. Annan also noted that the stalemate was a source of instability in the region and could have potentially devastating results for both nations. "I am concerned that a relatively minor incident - even one of miscalculation - could degenerate into a very serious situation, which no one would wish for and which would be tragic for all concerned," he said. The peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea ground to a halt in April 2002 after the independent boundary commission ruled on the disputed frontier. The commission, which was agreed on by both countries after a border war ended in December 2000, ruled that certain territories were part of Eritrea, a decision rejected by Ethiopia. Demarcation of their 1,000-km frontier would by now have been complete, but it was delayed three times before being suspended indefinitely. Annan also referred to the strained relations between UNMEE and Eritrea. He cited restrictions on movement, detentions of local staff and public criticism of UNMEE by officials as having resulted in the deterioration of relations. This year, some 100 local staff in Eritrea had been "rounded up" by the authorities for national service, despite the exemption of UN staff from military service, he noted. "The peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea is unlikely to succeed if the parties remain unwilling to move forward and be accommodating," Annan warned. "Four years have passed since the end of hostilities, and it would now be time for the parties to demonstrate extra flexibility. "It is hoped that the two governments will realise, and perhaps explain to their peoples, that sober choices will have to be made in order to end the current stalemate. Failure to do so could indeed bring into jeopardy the overall peace endeavours," he added his report. "On the other hand, an early conclusion of the peace process would inevitably allow both countries to reap the fruits of peace and concentrate on much-needed reconstruction and development." The secretary-general's report, which covers the last four months, was released after Annan visited both countries last week and met their respective leaders. The report also coincided with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi telling his country’s parliament on Friday that Ethiopia wanted peace with Eritrea, but maintaining its opposition to the border ruling. "Attempting to implement the decision as it stands at a time of great tension could result in a return to hostilities in the near future," he told the MPs.