UN envoy to Eritrea and Ethiopia to arrive in Addis for visit

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 17, 2004 (Xinhua) — The newly appointed UN secretary general’s special envoy to Ethiopia and Eritrea, Lioyd Axworthy is expected to arrive in Addis Ababa on Feb. 19 to begin the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Source said that Axworthy, who was appointed in the first week of February “in order to help move the process forward”, is expected to hold talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other high ranking government officials.

The source said that Axworthy will be in Addis Ababa to discuss the peace process, particularly the Boundary Commission decision with various concerned bodies until Feb. 21.

He is also expected to hold talks with Chairperson of AU Commission Alpha Omar Konare, the EU ambassadors, UN Country Team and other concerned bodies.

Ethiopia and Eritrea agreed to accept the ruling of the International Boundary Commission regarding their disputed 1,000 km border, which sparked a border war in 1998.

But Ethiopia criticized the commission’s ruling in particular its decision to locate the western town Badme in Eritrea territory.

Annan offered his “good offices” to the two countries and appointed Axworthy as his Special envoy “in order to help move the process forward.”

He served as Canada’s foreign minister from 1995 to 2000 and is currently director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia.

Eritrea has been opposing the appointment of the special envoy as saying “no talks before demarcation.”

Axworthy will also travel o Asmara, capital of Eritrea after concluding his visit to Ethiopia, however his trip to Asmara has not been confirmed yet.