Noticias
cf. WCC Press Release, PR-02-17, of 28 June 2002
The relative peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea is due to be tested soon. At a briefing on 11 July by the general secretary for the United Nations Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Ambassador Joseph Llegweila told World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser that the test will come when the two countries transfer territory. Raiser is in Ethiopia as part of a 1-16 July visit to the Greater Horn of Africa and Tanzania.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have been locked in a bitter boundary war that first erupted in 1998 and flared up again two years ago. To settle their dispute over the borderline, a transfer of territory will become necessary. "Whether people will want to be transferred with the territory is the question," the ambassador noted, pointing out that border residents will be given the choice as to whether or not to accept what will amount to change of citizenship.
Ambassador Llegweila stressed that the governments of both countries "are obliged to treat each other's people humanely". The territory transfer could result in an estimated 10,000 Eritrean and Ethiopian families finding themselves on the other side of a re-drawn border. The decision on the redrawn border will be made next week at the Hague by a UN-sponsored Boundary Commission. Currently telephone links between the two countries are disconnected.
Llegweila went on to express the UN's concern that the release of political prisoners by both Ethiopia and Eritrea has stalled. Ethiopia is holding 1,400 Eritrean prisoners while Eritrea has 260 Ethiopian prisoners.
Raiser told the ambassador that he and his delegation are on a pastoral visit to the Horn of Africa and Tanzania to acquaint themselves with peace and reconciliation initiatives being undertaken in the sub-region. The ambassador noted that "religious leaders have been very helpful" in the restoration of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The WCC delegation is visiting northern and southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Tanzania and Kenya during its 1-16 July tour. Members of the WCC delegation are Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, WCC general secretary, Dr Agnes Abuom, WCC president (Sudan, Kenya, Eritrea portions of visit), Ms Karimi Kinoti, former coordinator of FECCLAHA, All Africa Conference of Churches, Mr Stein Villumstad, East Africa regional representative, Norwegian Church Aid, (Sudan-Khartoum, Ethiopia, Eritrea), Mr William Temu, WCC regional secretary for Africa, Mr Mitch Odero, head of Information & Communication Department, All Africa Conference of Churches, Mr Peter Williams, WCC photographer and videographer (Southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea). The delegation is being accompanied by Rev. Haruun Ruun, New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) executive secretary.
Photos of the visit are available on our website at www.photooikoumene.org/events/events.html