Thursday - March 2, 2000
DePaul University School for New Learning hosts historic videoconference

Story and photos by Larry Pyrz (Where's IT At?  www.wheresitat.com)

     Mr. Jose da Silva Campino

Ambassador Haile Menkerios                        Ambassador Dr. Duri Mohammed

Anxiety ran high Thursday evening as the 'first ever' direct diplomatic encounter between representatives of Ethiopia and Eritrea, took place across a conference room table at the United Nations in New York, and in front of a room full of people hundreds of miles away in a video conference classroom at DePaul's Lewis Tower in downtown Chicago.  The agreement of the diplomats to meet in any forum, let alone a videoconference with DePaul students and friends, took many by surprise.  Since the war between the two nations began back in 1998, direct diplomatic contact had not taken place until this recent Thursday evening.  Instead, the shuttle diplomacy carried out by the United Nations, U.S. and OAU has been key to at least slowing down the fighting which to date has claimed over 70,000 lives.

Entitled "Africa 2000: Prospects for Peace" the conference  was envisioned by DePaul's instructor Anghesom Atsbaha for his class "Africa: Changing Continent" as a forum for the exchange of ideas regarding peace in the Horn of Africa, and specifically to give his students the opportunity to confront the issues directly.  Organized by Pat Szczerba, of DePaul's Office of Distance Learning, it quickly became evident that this event was to become more than just a typical video conference with the UN.   The class was joined by DePaul administration and faculty, representatives from the Chicago Commission for Human Relations, Jubilee 2000, and a host of visitors from the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities.

From left to right, Mr. Jose da Silva Campino, Political Affairs Officer, Africa I Division, United Nations Department of Political Affairs; Ambassador Dr. Duri Mohammed, Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations; Ambassador Haile Menkerios, Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the United Nations; and Mr. Anghesom Atsbaha, Course Instructor of Africa: Changing Continent and others at DePaul University.

Students and visitors alike listened intently while pondering the ramification of each speaker's words.  Presenting the opening remarks were Dr. Suzanne Dumbleton, Dean of DePaul's School for New Learning, and Pat Szczerba, (picture on far right) organizer of the video conference.  Both cited the potential importance of the evening's discussion.  Anghesom Atsbaha provided the questions for discussion, giving each of the three panelists equal time to make their statements. The central picture above shows students as they listen to Mr. Campino respond to a question put to the panel. 

According to the UN and Eritrean Ambassador, the war is a result of a dispute over territories claimed due to improper demarcation of colonial borders.  However, Ethiopia's position is based on a claim of Eritrean aggression in consideration of the occupation of Ethiopian territory.  Since the beginning of hostilities, Eritrea and Ethiopia have spent nearly a billion dollars to support their armies.  When confronted on the pending agreements, both parties claim that they have accepted the general terms of the agreements while both continue to dispute the details.  In the words of Ambassador Dr. Mohammed, a significant part of Ethiopia's position is their philosophy that "aggression cannot be rewarded".  On the other hand, Ambassador Menkerios states that Ethiopia is rejecting all attempts at meetings between diplomats at any level.  This is the primary reason that the videoconference seemed to hold such importance.  It is, in fact, the first direct dialog between the two countries at any level since the conflict began.

When the floor was opened for questions,  student Brian Kelly asked the ambassadors, "where is the money coming from to fight the war?"  Neither ambassador felt inclined to be the first to answer.  After nearly a minute of exchanging laughter and lighthearted banter, Ambassador Menkerios stated "He (Ambassador Dr. Mohammed) was my professor when I was a student and out of respect I am deferring the question to him."  The class was startled to hear that the two opposing ambassadors were at one point much closer than they are now.  The revelation drew a gasp or two but what was heard next was just as startling. 

Rather than directly respond to the question, Ambassador Dr. Mohammed stated that "the Ethiopian people are a very patriotic people and...they can sacrifice anything...they can sacrifice their three meals...to support the war".  Ambassador Menkerios went on to say that in Eritrea, development and education programs have been hurt by the drain on the national treasury.  His comment was that this is a  dispute that neither country "can ill afford" to have continue.  Unfortunately, there were no direct answers to the question of the source of the money and the arms required to fight the war.

So then, did the evening end on a positive note?  During his closing remarks, Mr. Atsbaha expressed the hope that all parties could meet again soon in a different forum...one of peace. 

Will peace happen?  From the beginning of the conflict, Tony Lake, former United States National Security Advisor and the chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) have been shuttling between Addis Ababa and Asmara in an attempt to bring resolution and peace to both countries.  According to comments made by Mr. Campino, things are giving the appearance that something positive may occur soon.  Only time will tell..

Until peace finally comes to the region, people will go hungry.  Economic and political progress will continue to remain suspended.  Much needed internal development in both countries will go undone.  Worst of all, people will continue to die.  And for what? What is the price that both countries will have to pay?

Instructor Atsbaha, the students and guests gave encouragement and hope to the ambassadors and the UN representative.  We all hope that this historic FIRST EVER conversation between the Eritrean and Ethiopian ambassadors will help pave the way to continued discussions and peace.