Britain repeats Ethiopia-Eritrea border ruling final, urges dialogue

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 11 (AFP) — Britain’s international development secretary Hilary Benn Wednesday repeated London’s view that a ruling by an independent commission on the path of the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia was final, but called for dialogue between the two countries.

Tens of thousands of people died during a two-year border war between the Horn of Africa neighbours before a peace accord was signed in Algiers in December 2000.

Under that pact, an independent border commission was set up to rule on the exact path of the border, and Ethiopia and Eritrea agreed that they would the commission’s decision as “final and binding.”

But Ethiopia has rejected commission’s ruling, particularly because it gave the border town of Badme to Eritrea.

“I reinforce the UK’s view that the commission’s decision must be final and binding,” Benn told a news conference in Addis Ababa at the end of his four-day visit to Ethiopia.

“We also recognise the importance of wider political dialogue to improving the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea … The international community and the UK are ready to help,” Benn, who had talks with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi during his visit, added.

Eritrea has dismissed the idea of dialogue before Ethiopia drops its rejection of the border ruling.

“I have made it clear to the prime minister that continued peace and stability in the region and between Ethiopia and Eritrea is a fundamental prerequisite for future development and prosperity,” Benn said.

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

On Tuesday, Benn urged the international community to continue helping Ethiopia, which is frequently hit by drought, to feed its people.