Position Paper for the Special Political and Decolonization Committee Delegation from Eritrea Represented by Canadian International School, Shubhavi Arya The state of Eritrea is honored to discuss the evidently prevalent topic of border conflicts that is imperative to the wellbeing of our international community. We recognize that the uprising in the armed border conflicts is one of the eminent issues that we must discuss at the SPECPOL. We must address the needs of those whose lives have been devastated due to rise of drug smuggling, human trafficking and weapon proliferation. The state of Eritrea is confident that the SPECPOL can reach consensus on this issue. We will listen to the pleas of our fellow neighbors and promise them a better future.
Topic: The Resolution of Border Conflicts Eritrea recognizes that the situation in Africa and other continents command the evergreater attention of the Committee. Culture clash, political interest groups, demographic representations are the reasons that trigger border conflicts. Eritrea condemns its history of border conflicts with Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan. Eritrea was particularly concerned by the war dispute with Yemen over the Hanish Islands in 1995(1). Eritrea notes the fragile nature of the current stability in countries affected by border conflicts especially in the continent of Africa. In an effort to bring stability to the region, Eritrea signed a peace treaty in December 2000 with Ethiopia(2) ending the war and created two binding judicial commissions, the EritreaEthiopia Border Commission(4) and the EritreanEthiopian Claims Commission(3), to rule on their disputed border and related claims. Eritrea has viewed this border dispute as an existential threat to itself in particular and the African Union in general, because it deals with the supremacy of colonial boundaries in Africa. Eritrea is thankful to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for passing Resolution 1862 on January 14, 2009, urging dialogue between Djibouti and Eritrea(5) to solve the border dispute. For the peace and development of the African Union, Eritrea agreed with Djibouti to refer the matter to Qatar for mediation in early June 2010(6). Furthermore, in 1998, Eritrea agreed to share its sovereignty with Yemen at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Hague(7) in an effort to cease hostilities and improve its humanitarian conditions. After a highlevel delegation to Sudan from the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs(8), ties are being normalized. Eritrea takes pride in playing an effective role in bringing the peace agreement between the Southern Sudanese and Government. Eritrea is happy to gain support from U.S. for consolidating towards peace with Ethiopia(9). We attempted to accomplish our goal of having more better relations with Sudan by cooperating in the building of the KassalaAl Lafa Highway linking Sudan to Eritrea(11) in 2011(10) and also abolished entry visa requirements for Sudan(12) opening its border for free movement of nationals. Eritrea would like to make clear that a conflict must be resolved peacefully, as we have no intention of pursuing any military intervention or authority over its border sharing states. Eritrea encourages the creation of a comprehensive strategy of conflict resolution and crisis prevention must be centered upon the principles of equality, mutual respect for sovereignty and mutual benefit. On the grounds of “international solidarity and shared responsibilities,” developed nations must implement measures to assist developing countries by donating financial resources, technology, and humanitarian assistance to tackle this issue of territorial conflicts by improving education and national democratic structures. Furthermore, any legislation implemented by SPECPOL must recognize the importance of involving appropriate regional bodies in peace treaties, as such organizations invariably know the specific needs and capabilities of their regions best. In addition, to facilitate a nonviolent resolution, Eritrea requests full cooperation of the concerned states in the subregion and the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Political Affairs, by an approach of shared responsibility towards potential conflicts, and underline the importance for them to continue and strengthen their partnership. Eritrea, however will not support any resolution that allows 3rd party actors such as peacekeeping troops to enter into a nation, unless with nation’s permission. Eritrea feels that any resolution to the prevention of border conflicts
must assign to the injured state the right to try the insurgents. The state of Eritrea is determined to put an end to the brutal killings and abuses that are ongoing along the nation’s border. Eritrea supports the regional efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in effect with the African Union, to restraint the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and to achieve the security sector reforms for better buildup of hostilities and conflict in future. Also Eritrea would like the member states of SPECPOL to support with expertise and by other means the commendable efforts of UNODC. Eritrea further suggests the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) to organize a series of amnesty firearms collection to reduce the number of weapons already in the community. Eritrea supports SPECPOL to overcome this issue of border disputes at all costs, for otherwise the society would be left in a state of deprivation and delusion. ENDNOTES 1. "Military." Hanish Island Conflict. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/hanish.htm> 2. "Ethiopia: Peace Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea Signed on 12 December 2000 in Algiers including Terms, Amnesty for Deserters/evaders and or Objectors to Military Service during the War (19982000), and for Ethnic Eritreans Detained And/or Deported from Ethiopia." Refworld. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be2e14.html>. 3. "EritreaEthiopia Claims Commission." EritreaEthiopia Claims Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.pcacpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1151>. 4. "EritreaEthiopia Boundary Commission." EritreaEthiopia Boundary Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.pcacpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1150>. 5. "Boundary News." Security Council Agrees Resolution on DjiboutiEritrea Border Dispute. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <https://www.dur.ac.uk/ibru/news/boundary_news/?itemno=7410>. 6. Eritrea. Infoplease, n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/eritreahistory.html>. 7. "Eritrea / Yemen." » The Hague Justice Portal. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/index.php?id=6153>. 8. "Foreign Relations of Eritrea." Foreign Relations of Eritrea. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013.
<https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Foreign_relations_of_Eritrea.html>. 9. "Eritrea." U.S. Department of State Background Note. Infoplease, n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.infoplease.com/country/profiles/eritrea.html> 10. "Road Linking Eritrea and Sudan Inaugurated | TesfaNews." TesfaNews. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.tesfanews.net/roadlinkingeritreaandsudaninaugurated/> 11. "SudanEritrea Road to Boost Ties: Emir." Qatar Tribune. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.qatartribune.com/data/20111027/content.asp> 12. "Entry Visas Abolished between Sudan and Eritrea | TesfaNews." TesfaNews. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2013. <http://www.tesfanews.net/entryvisasabolishedbetweensudananderitrea/>