Ethiopia ready to solve border dispute peacefully-Meles

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

April 19, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Prime Minister Meles Zenawi expressed Ethiopia’s readiness to solve border dispute with Eritrea peacefully.

The Premier has hold talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his stay in New York earlier this week.

According to Ambassador Negash Kibret, deputy representative of the United Nation to Ethiopia, talks on Ethiopia and Eritrea situation was a “top agenda.”

Meles Zenawi has assured the UN chief that Ethiopia is ready to solve the border dispute peacefully and has no intention to take military action against Eritrea.

Meles urged the UN Security Council not to be reluctant on “Eritrea’s anti-peace activities which could endanger peace in the horn of Africa’s nation including banning of the UN peace keeping force.”

Meles has also discussed with U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jenday Frazer and Somalia President Abdulahi Yesuf on issues of common concern.

Meles has been in New York to attend the first joint meeting of the AU peace and the United Nations peace and Security Council.

Prime Minister Meles earlier chaired the new partnership for Africa’s development (NEPAD) implementation committee held in Dakar, Senegal.

(ST)