Eritrea to close its embassy in Belgium

Feb 1, 2006 (ASMARA) — Eritrea will close its embassy in Belgium by the end of the month and transfer diplomatic representation to the Netherlands for financial reasons, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Ahferom Berhane, director at the foreign ministry, said the closure of the embassy, which represented the country in several European Union (EU) states was neither political nor linked to a current border stalemate with Ethiopia.

“The decision has nothing to do with that,” Ahferom said. “It is only for financial reasons, it will not affect our relationship with the EU.”

“It will be closed by the end of February. Our embassy in the Netherlands will be accredited to cover the same countries.”

In recent months, Asmara has stepped up criticism against the EU, United Nation and the US for failing to make Ethiopia accept a three-year-old border demarcation both nations had agreed to as part of a 2000 peace deal that ended their 1998-2000 war, which claimed at least 80,000 lives.

Officials of the EU Commission delegation here offered no comment, but said they would wait for a reaction from the EU in Brussels.

(ST)