Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of obstructing border row settlement

July 4, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Tuesday renewed accusations against arch-foe Eritrea for obstructing efforts aimed at resolving a stalement on their disputed border and threatening regional stability.

Meles said Ethiopia had duly complied with the international boundary commission meetings held in London in March and May and blamed Asmara for inflexibility.

“The process has been cut short before getting off the ground because of Eritrea’s intransigence which was responsible for lack of any outcome from the meetings and because of Asmara’s rejection of any invitation to meetings relating to the dispute,” Meles told parliament.

The two Horn of Africa nations, which have stuck to their longstanding inflexible positions, routinely blame each other for the unresolved border tussle that has hiked tension between them and threatened renewed conflict.

Asmara has accused Addis Ababa for calling for revision of the 2002 border ruling that it argues is final and binding although Ethiopia maintains that if applied, the ruling risks dividing families on either sides of the border.

Meles also blamed Eritrea of threatening regional peace for its alleged military backing of the Somali Islamic militia now controlling the country’s lawless capital Mogadishu and nearby towns.

“Eritrea’s action of arming radical elements in Somalia which are all known and have been confirmed by the United Nations reports constitutes … a strategy of destabilising the region.” Meles said.

“The Eritrean government has confirmed through its actions that it stands to be a source of destabilisation in the Horn of Africa and a mentor of radicals and terrorists,” he added, warning that Ethiopia would be on the look-out for any aggression.

(ST)