Peace Rally in Washington, DC February 13, 2006

2006 Eritrean Peace Rally in Washington, DC

The Algiers Agreements signed by Eritrea and Ethiopia in Algiers on 12 December 2000 were witnessed and guaranteed by the African Union, European Union, United States of America, and the United Nations.

The Algiers Agreements called for the delimitation and demarcation of the Eritrea Ethiopia border by an independent Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC). The Algiers Agreements also called on the African Union and the Security Council to take appropriate punitive actions against the party that refuses to abide by the Agreements.

The Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission delivered its final and binding decision on 13 April 2002. Eritrea has accepted the decision and is waiting patiently for the demarcation of the Eritrea Ethiopia Border in accordance with the 13 April 2002 EEBC decision.

Ethiopia on the other hand, has refused to accept the final and binding decision and has refused to cooperate with the EEBC, its demarcation directives, procedures and orders.

Ethiopia?s stand is in violation of the tenets of the Algiers Agreement and international law.

The Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission has been forced to close its offices and all demarcation activities have come to a complete halt.

The US-led international community instead of taking appropriate punitive actions against Ethiopia for its defiance of international law and Ethiopia?s refusal to cooperate with the Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission?s demarcation directives, orders and procedures, is now engaged in diversionary and tangential issues such as the United Nations? Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE), restrictions on the peacekeeping mission etc. etc. further complicating the Eritrea Ethiopia peace process and contributing to the dangerous crisis in the Horn of Africa.

The United States provides Ethiopia the second highest amount of U.S. aid allocated to sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia receives some US$1.9 billion in aid a year, the largest recipient of foreign assistance in Africa. Aid accounts for up to a third of the government's entire budget.

US aid is not being used for development or on poverty reduction or any other humanitarian effort. Instead, the money is being used purchase military hardware and wars of aggression against Eritrea, its neighbors and the Ethiopian people.

As one of the guarantors of the Algiers Peace Agreements, and as the major contributor to Ethiopia?s national and defense budgets, the United States of America not only has treaty obligations, but also has the necessary political, diplomatic and economic leverage to force Ethiopia to abide by the EEBC ruling and allow for the expeditious demarcation of the Eritrea Ethiopia border.

Funneling aid into Ethiopia and ignoring the Ethiopian Government?s defiance of international law will not only jeopardize the peace and security of the region but also US efforts in the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa.

The United States must uphold the rule of law and enforce the EEBC decision in full without any pre-conditions or delay.

On 13 February 2006 between 9:00am and 2:00pm EST, members of the Eritrean Community in the United States of America, will participate in a peace rally in Washington, DC to call on the international community in general and the Government of the United States of America in particular, to fulfill their respective duties as guarantors of the Algiers Peace Agreement, to enforce the EEBC decision without preconditions and further delay in order to avert another disastrous war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

We also call on the United States Government to impose economic sanctions against the lawless Ethiopian Government and prevent another catastrophic war.

Please sign petition to avert another war at:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/545748216