UK urges dialogue between Ethiopia, Eritrea

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 12, 2004 (PANA) — Reassuring Ethiopia and
Eritrea of the international community’s readiness to
work with the two countries to resolve their border
dispute, Britain reiterated Monday that the Boundary
Commission’s decision is final and binding.

In his remarks at the end of an official visit to
Ethiopia, Britain’s Minister for Africa, Chris Mullin,
said there was need for dialogue between the two
neighbouring countries, which have failed to normalise
relations since the end of a two-year war in 2000.

The independent Ethiopia/Eritrea Boundary Commission
announced its decision on 13 April 2002 but Ethiopia
has not accepted some parts of that decision. A
stalemate that ensued has since stalled the border
demarcation.

“There is need for dialogue between the [two]
countries on all issues on which they disagree, in
order to improve the bilateral relationship.

“This is mainly for the parties themselves but we, and
other members of the international community, including
the United Nations and witnesses to the Algiers
agreement, are ready to work with both parties to help
them implement the Boundary Commission’s decision,”
said Mullin.

On 12 December 2000 in Algiers, Algeria, the two
parties signed a comprehensive Peace Agreement so that
lasting peace could be achieved. They undertook to
permanently terminate military hostilities and to
refrain from the threat or use of force against each
other.

Under the terms of the agreement, a neutral
Boundary Commission was set up to delimit and
demarcate the border.

The British minister emphasised that both parties
should work with UN Special Envoy Lloyd Axworthy “to
build confidence and open the channels of communication
needed to resolve the present impasse.”

Concerned about the lack of progress in the
implementation of the Algiers Agreement, UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan early this year appointed
Axworthy, a former foreign minister from Canada, as his
special envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Eritrean authorities, however, have not met with the
special envoy due to their own reservations about his
mandate and terms of reference.