Ethio-Eritrea Peace Will Enhance Regional Peace, Economic Integration: former IGAD Peace and Security Director

Ethio-Eritrea July 17/2018 The peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea will have big impact on the peace and security of the volatile Horn of Africa region and economic integration, according to the former IGAD Peace and Security Director. In an exclusive interview with Ethiopian News Agency, IGAD Director of Peace and Security Division Ambassador Tewolde Gebremeskel said “it is the beginning of peace in the coming years.” Ethiopia has been the epicenter of peace in the region since 1991 and the backdrop was the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, he said, adding that “this is done as we have seen peace coming.” “As I said, Ethiopia has for the last 20 years been playing prominent role in trying to bring the region into close economic integration through infrastructure like the exemplary relationship between Djibouti and Ethiopia in railway, energy and even water services.” In this perspective, the peace created between Ethiopia and Eritrea is a remarkable result of the efforts made for so many years, Ambassador Tewolde noted. “It materialized now because of the bold decision taken by our Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and this has culminated in people-to-people relationship.” According to him, the agreement reached between the countries is a landmark since this was inter-conflict, and all the other conflicts intra-conflicts; and that conflict affected the region. This landmark agreement will bring a lot of excitement in the relationships of Eritrea with Djibouti, and Sudan. “It is so extraordinary and unprecedented because in the first day of the meeting these countries had to sign so many different agreements before even talking about the demarcation of borders. It shows that there was a real need and interest from both sides that peace is vital to both countries and to the region,” he elaborated. The desire for peace among the people of both countries is visible, Ambassador Tewolde noted, adding that “the ground is fertile to work on public diplomacy.” He pointed out that “African Union's goal of silencing the guns by 2020 can be achieved in this volatile region; and I am hopeful that those things can happen in the following two years.”  “I think the agreements reached show that the leaders were serious in trying to discuss about the cardinal issues that have to be resolved, which in principle they have agreed only in a day meeting,” he pointed out. Noting that both leaders have gone even far by discussing the most important issues that bring Eritrea and Ethiopia together, the former Director stated: “if they dare to solve those issues overnight then it gives me an indication that those demarcation issues will be addressed according to the international law, but fundamentally I think they will give priority to the interest of both countries.” Ambassador Tewolde emphasized that both leaders have reached understanding that the borders are nothing for Ethiopians and Eritreans are two people that can work together in the region and for the regional strength, sustainable peace, development, and economic integration.