Excellency,

I wanted to share with you and the Security Council, as the Council is preparing to consider the issue once again, Ethiopia's views on the current status of the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea  

Perhaps the first issue that needs to be taken up immediately is the claim being made by Eritrea that Ethiopia is occupying sovereign Eritrean territory.  There is no doubt that this fiction has been sustained by the so-called "virtual demarcation" of the boundary.  This is a legacy left behind by the EEBC which is in no way meant to contribute to peace and regional stability.  Nor does it. 

It need no emphasis that "virtual demarcation", and the attempt to find a substitute for real demarcation is viewed by the pertinent experts in the area as no more than a legal fiction.  It is precisely for this reason that the claim being made by Eritrea about the violation by Ethiopia of its sovereignty is absolutely groundless.  What is more, Eritrea knows that the claim it is making just does not make sense.  Not only because the claim is based on a legal fiction, but also because insofar as demarcation is not completed, it is natural that both are holding onto territories that ought eventual to go to the other party after demarcation.  If we go by Eritrean logic, Eritrea can also be said to be occupying Ethiopian territory. 

But all this is unhelpful and unnecessary in addressing the challenge of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

What is more relevant, and vital, now is the fact that Eritrea is in breach of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and that it has completely violated the demilitarized Temporary Security Zone.  I would note that Ethiopia expects the Security Council to exercise its authority to take appropriate measures against the party that has violated the provisions of the ceasefire agreement as provided for in the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. 

I wish to draw Your Excellency's attention to two other serious matters in connection with the obligation of the two parties under the Algiers Agreements.  The first has to do with the fact that the final and binding decision which has relevance to demarcation is the delimitation decision of April 2002.  Ethiopia is not aware of any other decision relevant to demarcation that it has any obligation to respect.  The second obligation that the two parties have relates to the need to assume primary responsibility for implementing all the provisions of the Algiers Agreements, including the provisions relating to delimitation and demarcation.  No one can substitute for the parties to carry out these obligations - not UNMEE, not any other organization. 

It is our hope that the Security Council will not be unduly influenced by what one can only call the Eritrean 'antics', when the Council is about to consider this matter with due seriousness, and assist us achieve peace in our region. 

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.