British minister in Ethiopia to discuss border dispute with Eritrea

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 8 (AFP) — British international development secretary Hilary Benn arrived in Addis Ababa early Sunday for talks with Ethiopian officials on issues including the border dispute with Eritrea.

“The Secretary arrived early Sunday morning … he will be seeing senior government officials and officials of non-governmental organisations,” a spokesman for the British embassy in Addis Ababa told AFP.

Benn is to have talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other officials on the stalled peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea, poverty reduction and human rights during the four-day visit.

Ethiopia has refused to accept a ruling by an independent commission on the path of the border with Eritrea, over which the Horn of Africa neighbours fought a war between 1998 and 2000.

Ethiopia has criticised the judgement of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission, released in 2002, mainly because it gave the contested town of Badme to Eritrea.

On a visit to Addis Ababa last month, Britain’s minister for Africa Chris Mullin said London had made it clear to both Ethiopia and Eritrea the border comission decision was final and binding.

Benn is also to meet officials of an association of women living with HIV/AIDS and visit people who are dependent on food aid.