[ADDIS TRIBUNE] EDP SAYS COLONIAL TREATIES INVALID, NULL AND VOID
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Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)
February 8, 2002
Posted to the web February 8, 2002
In its latest press briefing ahead of the Boarder Commission's verdict, the
Ethiopian's Democratic Party (EDP) said it would keep on struggling against the
Algiers Peace Agreement signed between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
EDP officials told journalist that the Algiers Peace Agreement is particularly
flawed because its Article 4(2) stipulates that the boundary demarcation
between Ethiopia and Eritrea is to be based on the treaties of 1900, 1902 and
1908 signed between Ethiopia and Italy.
"These treaties are invalid because, in the first place, they were entered
between unequal parties under a condition of duress. Even if we were to
overlook this factor, the treaties were abrogated by fascist Italy as a result
of its blatant invasion of Ethiopia in 1936. Furthermore, they were made null
and void when Italy signed the 1947 peace treaty of Paris.
Finally they were rendered irrelevant when Eritrea was federated and eventually
fully integrated with Ethiopia," read a press release issued by EDP.
EDP officials furthermore stated that article 4(2) of the Algiers Peace
Agreement, which does not protect Ethiopia's natural, historical and legal
right of access to the sea would be unjust and will not bring a genuine and
long-lasting peace to our region. "We wish to remind the United Nations in
general and the Security Council and the major powers in particular that
short-term solutions would only bring short-term peace," they said.
Allowing Ethiopia to remain landlocked is also undermining the effectiveness of
international efforts that are being made to reduce poverty as Ethiopia would
join the rank of the landlocked, least developed countries, "thus being one
more burden on the developed countries."
For centuries, according to the statement issued by EDP, the Red Sea was the
natural boundary of northern Ethiopia. "Ethiopians have made precious
sacrifices to keep this boundary free from successive foreign aggression.
But colonialism came and introduced chaos into our region. Through the force of
arms and political machinations colonial Italy, in collaboration with other
colonial power, sealed off Ethiopia's access to the sea with the sinister
purpose of rendering it landlocked, dependent and weak."
It is the outcome of this colonial Italian machination, "a timed political
bomb," according to EDP officials, that is now threatening the peace and
stability of Ethiopia. "We call upon the world community to use its wisdom and
sense of justice to defuse this time bomb once and for all," they said.
EDP has organized a public demonstration this Sunday and calls upon Ethiopians
to take part in the demonstration and voice against the Algiers Peace
Agreement. "We are not calling for war. We are calling for justice and will
continue to do so peacefully, legally and diplomatically. We hope that in the
end justice will prevail."
A demonstration is also being organized in Washington DC on Monday, Feb 11 by
the United Ethiopians Organizations (UECO). Originally, the Washington DC
demonstration was planned for Feb. 18, but UECO decided to change the date to
make it closer to the date when the Mesqel Square demonstration is held, and
also taking into consideration that Feb. 18 is a Federal holiday in the United
States and all government offices are closed.
The Washington DC demonstration will be held on Monday, Feb. 11 in front of the
White House starting at 12 Noon.