Addis Ababa, April 13 (ENA) --Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the Hague-based  international court of arbitration which was handling the cases of the Ethio-Eritrean border claims on Saturday ruled that the contested areas be regarded as an integral part of the sovereign Ethiopian territory.

Seyoum said Ethiopia, which has shattered the myth of Eritrean invincibility at the war fronts, has once again defeated Eritrea at the law of court by gaining all the lands falsely claimed by the regime in Asmara.

The Foreign Minister made the remarks while briefing local and foreign journalists on the verdict of the international tribunal.

He said Ethiopia was fully satisfied with the decision of the independent boundary commission.

" Ethiopia has proved to be right and Eritrean occupation of Ethiopian territories by force has been rejected," Seyoum said.

Justifying the decision, Seyoum contented, the ruling is a victory of law and order over the rule of the jungle, violence and anarchy.

The Foreign Minister said " Ethiopia hopes that the decision of the boundary commission will once and for all seal any attempt by any military adventure to change border claims by force."

According to the Foreign Minister, the decision of the boundary commission clearly implies that it was the Eritrean government that instigated aggression against the so-called disputed areas, which are now proved to be Ethiopian sovereign territories.

According to the Algiers peace deal, both parties should accept the decision of the boundary commission as final and binding with no right to appeal, Seyoum said.

He said Ethiopia would remain committed as ever before to the speedy and scrupulous implementation of the decision.

The foreign minister also urged Eritrea to facilitate the speedy implementation of the boundary commission's decision.

Seyoum said "Ethiopia would remain vigilant until it is assured that the other side is also convinced that it wouldn't achieve any thing through military means."

Asked about considering normalizing relations with Eritrea, Seyoum said Ethiopia first wants to see transparency and predictability of the Eritrean government prior to normalizing relations.

(END)