April 4, 2002
Signatures delivered to the UN Secretary General’s Office
The 135,942 petition signatures that were collected by the Ethiopians’ Democratic Party (EDP) were delivered to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s office today. The signatures were delivered by Ato Elias Kifle and Ato Abate Kassa to Mr. Patrick Hayford, Director for African Affairs at the Secretary General’s office.
After thanking Mr. Hayford for taking his time to receive the signatures, Ato Elias appealed to him and through him to the Secretary General to stop the UN-sponsored Border Commission’s ruling, at least until the people of Ethiopia are consulted on it and express their views through a referendum.
Ato Elias explained to Mr. Hayford that the December 2000 Algiers Agreement, which the Hague Commission is following to make its decision, is based on alleged colonial treaties of 1900, 1902 and 1908, which are in fact not treaties, but memoranda of understanding between Colonialist Italy and Ethiopia. Ato Elias further explained that, even if they were treaties, they were annulled when Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935.
Ato Elias pointed out to Mr Hayford that, the people of Ethiopia will not accept this unjust ruling, which will make our country landlocked and deprive our people, such as Afars and Irobs, their Ethiopian citizenship. The Hague decision will cause further instability in the Horn of Africa region, Ato Elias added.
Mr. Hayford responded that, I hear your concern, but this must come from the Government of Ethiopia, because the United Nations is an intermediary of governments.
Ato Abate said to Mr. Hayford that the Algiers Agreement was legally wrong and that the United Nations must be held morally responsible for not stopping this unjust ruling that harms 65 million Ethiopians. Ato Abate appealed to Mr. Hayford by stating that the border demarcation plan is a case of the prescription that is worse than the disease, as it sows seeds of conflict and instability in the region. Ato Abate added, the people of Ethiopia are bitterly opposing the Hague decision process, and the 135,942 signatures we have brought to you today are testimonies to that. The people took serious risks by publicly giving their names and addresses and signing the petition. They took the risk of being arrested, losing their jobs, and other dangers in signing the petition. Ato Abate informed Mr Hayford that Ethiopians at home and in the Diaspora continue to express their opposition to the Hague decision process through demonstrations and are now organizing worldwide protest demonstrations on April 29.
Mr. Hayford said that he will make sure to discuss the matter with Mr. Kofi Annan and also give him the petition letter, but again stressed the point that the UN works through governments, and that it would be best if you communicate your concern to your own government.
Ato Elias responded, the dictatorial regime of Meles Zenawi is working against the interests of Ethiopia, and that the people of Ethiopia want the UN and the international community to know that when a government that works for the interests of Ethiopia comes, it will raise this issue again.
Mr. Hayford assured the delegates that he will communicate the message to Mr. Kofi Annan.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Ato Elias informed Ambassador Andrey Granovsky of the Russian Mission to the United Nations about the 135,942 signatures that came from Ethiopia, and urged him to reconsider the Russian Federation’s position, in light of the strong opposition by the people of Ethiopia to the Hague decision.
Ambassador Granovsky told Ato Elias that the letters from EDP have been forwarded to Moscow, but that the Government of Russia recognizes Meles Zenawi’s government as the legitimate representative of the Ethiopia, and that Russia intends to support what the Meles government says is in the best interest of Ethiopia.
Ato Elias explained to Ambassador Granovsky that Meles Zenawi is a dictator who rules by the power of the gun, not by popular will, and his regime does not represent Ethiopia.
The people of Ethiopia are opposing the Hague decision, Ato Elias said to Ambassador Granovsky, and appealed to him to use his government’s current position as President of the Security Council to stop the decision process in the Hague immediately, in order to avoid war in the Horn of Africa.
Ato Elias also reminded Ambassador Granovsky about the long historical ties between the people of Ethiopia and Russia, and the Russian government’s position in support of the reunification of Eritrea with Ethiopia in 1953.
Ambassador Granovsky responded that he will communicate the message to Moscow, but said that according to the Security Council’s rule only governments represents the interests of their countries in the Security Council, and if the government of Ethiopia does not represent Ethiopia’s interest, it is up to the people of Ethiopia do some thing about it.
HOME PUBLISHER MESSAGE BOARD EVENTS JOIN E-MAIL LIST SEND NEWS TIPS SUBMIT AN EVENT ETHIOPIAN CALENDAR