10:38 AM
Admin.
By: Abdul Karim Koroma
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Andrew Gbebay Bangali on Thursday 28th June 2012 as Chair of the Permanent Representatives’ Sub Committee on Headquarters and Host Agreements presided over complaints filed by the Embassies of Ghana and Eritrea on the alleged abuse of the privileges and immunities of its officials to the Commission by the host country.
The meeting also discussed the consideration of unresolved issues from the Commission on the implementation of the Headquarters Agreement.
The Ghanaian delegation was quick to inform the gathering that the matter between them and the host country had been resolved and this was confirmed by Ethiopia’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, Her Excellency Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis who stated that such an unfortunate situation will never occur again.
Some delegations had wanted Ambassador Sinegiorgis to proffer some comments as to why the matter was settled between the two countries without the Sub Committee not providing an oversight in the resolution of the matter.
Ambassador Bangali overruled on the grounds that the Sub Committee is not a court of law adding that if the two countries had settled the matter amicably, the case should be considered as closed.
On the protest made by the Eritrean Embassy, some delegations suggested that the Envoy of the State of Eritrea to the African Union, Ambassador Girma Asmerom should be invited to the Committee’s next meeting despite the latter not being a member of the Committee since their complaints will be on the agenda for discussion.
Ambassador Sinegiorgis objected that it was inappropriate for the Committee to invite Eritrea because the Mission had filed their complaint and they had been responded to, however, Ambassador Bangali opined that Ethiopia’s objection can be taken under advice before the next meeting.
“Ethiopia and Eritrea are two sister countries. It is unfortunate that this is happening. Eritrea is not accredited to the Ethiopian Government but the African Union Commission,” she said.