|
 Eritrea:
Not to cross an inch the territory of Djibouti
|
Dr.Abdullahi Mohamed (Deputy Editor Geeska Afrika
Online)
Djibouti (HAN) April 26, 2008
|
(Back seat with president Ismail
Omar): An Interview with the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, HE Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said again and again "
Doumeira belongs to us!" which mean Djibouti.
|
Eritrea:
Not to cross an inch the territory of Djibouti
Nairobi (HAN) April 26,
2008-An Interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said again and again " Doumeira belongs to
us!" which mean Djibouti.
During press briefing on the situation currently prevailing in
Doumeira, near the border with Eritrea. Interview with the
minister replied to a number of issues that a rose national and
regional issues on the question of Eritrea and Djibouti crisis.
Mr. Minister, tell us what President IsmaÏl Omar Guelleh and
President Afeworki had said during their recent telephone
conversation?
Let me start by reminding you, as I also mentioned in my
statement, that a spirit of understanding and brotherhood
prevailed in the discussions between the Head of State of
Djibouti and his Eritrean counterpart . In his own regard,
President Issaias Afeworki visited few weeks ago that on the
site in question to give instructions to his men not to cross an
inch the territory of Djibouti. The latter has even used the
term "shibre" which in Arabic means one inch, one iota. All this
to tell you that the Eritrean side, when carrying out
engineering work, quite naturally thought to be on its
territory, which was not really the case. Of course, it happens
that all countries do not share the same understanding and
vision tracks border. And everywhere in African countries, like
most border routes are inherited from colonization, there is
often this kind of situation if approved cards. As for us,
fortunately we have all the cards necessary to enforce our
rights. We including documents dating from 1882 and which
indicate clearly that the sultan Raheïta ceded to France, former
colonial power of the Republic of Djibouti, Ras Doumeira and
mountain Doumeira located just opposite. And under Article 3 of
the African Charter which stipulates the inviolability of
borders inherited from colonialism, in which our two countries
are also signatories, I think there is not any ambiguity on that
point because maps and documents are there.
If persistence of Eritrea, which measures the Republic of
Djibouti will it take? At the moment we have recovered our
territories. The Djiboutian armed forces are on the border. The
question that arises at the moment is not to push the Eritrean
forces from our territories but rather to ensure that the zone
be demilitarized so that the two armies did not watch dogs
earthenware to avoid any minor event that could trigger a
widespread confrontation. I think there are a minimum of
precautions and it is incumbent upon governments of both
countries to ensure that the two armed forces did not look 50
metres of each other. To this end, we will work on the
diplomatic level so that the two armed forces in place to return
to their barracks, away from borders and preferably 5 kilometres
on each side. Until now, and God thank you again, no bullet was
fired from both sides.
This is the second time that Eritrea denies the border…
In 1994, I would say that Eritrea is trying to trying to
consolidate its identity and geographical area because that
country had just acquired its independence. There were, of
course, a few errors committed by the State of Eritrea and,
thereafter, have been repaired by the International Court of
Justice as the border dispute between Asmara and Yemen. Our
friends Eritrean we had submitted at that time cards, saying
that the demarcation of their border with Djibouti, north of the
country, did not correspond with the one we have. The current
border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea has nothing to do
with that of 1994, but it lies a few metres from the route.
Is it true that the site in question is a sensitive issue for
Eritreans who fear for their safety?
Eritrea is at war with Ethiopia over seven years. Do you have
heard it said once that Ethiopian troops have crossed the border
djibouto-Eritrean or that any aggression against the Eritrean
took place from our territory? No. I can therefore say that all
these fears are unfounded. We're here to preserve our fraternal
relations with this neighbouring country. And we have served it
well.
What can we expect the meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 24
at Ras-Doumeira between military officials from both countries?
We will confront the cards. Apparently, there is a dispute
over the boundary line. For us, it passes over the crest of
Ras-Doumeira and crack down on a portion of the island which
belongs to Doumeira Djibouti.
You should know that with the GPS and other means of modern
satellite technology, it is possible to be precise millimeter.
And with accurate maps and especially specialists in
cartography, we can avoid confusion and put benchmarks in a
manner sufficiently clear so that no doubt is still in the
future. It is a specialist and cartographer. We are firmly
convinced of the correctness of the current route djibouto-Eritrean
border.
Sources:
Geeska Afrika magazine, MAAS and HAN staff Reporter In
Djibouti
The HAN & Geeska Afrika Online - a regional
nonprofits IGAD2020 Center for Media and Democracy works to
strengthen stability by promoting IGAD sustainable media that
are "of, by and for the people." Our projects include regional
security watch, a weekly investigative journal; which offers
daily reporting on spin and propaganda in the news; and the Horn
of Africa Newsline, HAN watch, a weekly-based investigative
journalism resource to which anyone-real able, including you -
Geeska Afrika Online readers and HAN, can contribute.
|
SOMALI
DAILY NEWS
