Ethiopia’s PM says Eritrea must change stance on border row

September 17, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Monday that Eritrea must change its stance if the protracted border dispute between the two countries is to be resolved.

Inflexible positions by the Horn of African foes, who fought a 1998-2000 war, have impeded implementation of a 2002 United Nations border ruling that granted the flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea.

Addis Ababa wants the ruling revised, saying it splits families, while Asmara has insisted that it is final and binding.

“A solution can only be found once Eritrea changes its present stand,” Meles said in an interview broadcast by state-run Ethiopian television.

Last week, Ethiopia criticised the work of a UN border demarcation commission which said the 2002 border would be final if no breakthrough was reached by November 2007, when the commission is to be dissolved.

“There won’t be any difference whether the boundary commission completes its mandate or not,” Meles said.

“They may delimitate the border on maps but demarcation can only be viable if implemented on the ground. There might be a need for another body in the future…”

But Eritrea dismissed the comments, demanding instead that Ethiopia fulfil the legally binding border ruling.

“Eritrea will never, ever change its stand, and the border will be demarcated according to the law,” Information Minister Ali Abdu told AFP.

“How, when, where and in which way … History and time will have their answers.”

Eritrea earlier this month promised to fulfil all requirements demanded by the boundary commission, including lifting restrictions on UN peacekeepers and withdrawing its troops from a border buffer zone if Ethiopia honoured the 2002 agreement.

Observers have voiced concern that the border dispute could once again evolve into a full-fledged conflict after both sides flexed their military muscle and escalated rhetoric.

Eritrea has often complained that the international community — especially Ethiopia’s ally the United States — has not done enough to make Addis Ababa accept the new border.

(AFP)