Eritrea denies US mission’s permission to visit border area

Jan 18, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — The Eritrean authorities have denied two U.S. diplomats permission to visit an Eritrean border area that is the object of a simmering dispute with neighboring Ethiopia, a State Department official said Wednesday.

Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer and retired Marine Gen. Carlton Fulford had to settle for an inspection of the border area from the Ethiopian side, the official said, asking not to be identified.

Eritrea is insisting on Ethiopian acceptance of a 2002 binding border demarcation resulting from a peace deal that ended their bloody 1998-2000 war. It opposes any reopening of negotiations on the subject.

The Eritreans indicated last week that they had strong reservations about the U.S. mission but Frazer responded by telling reporters on Friday that she anticipated no problems, noting that the Eritreans had granted her a visa.

She said the United States supports implementation of the 2002 boundary decision. Frazer added that she thought a visit to the area would provide her with a better understanding of the issues involved.

(ST/AP)