The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) commended the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) between the two countries, and said it was an indication that peace was being established. In a statement released 25 December, UNMEE said the exchange of POWs was “a very real indication that peace is taking root.” It said the exchange demonstrated “that the words of peace pronounced in Algiers are now being followed by the actions of peace both in Asmara and in Addis Ababa.” The voluntary repatriation of POWs through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began on 22 December.
But the statement called on both governments to make “prompt decisions” on the members of the neutral boundary commission and “the complete and timely implementation of all the provisions of the 12 December peace agreement, so that this conflict can be resolved with fairness and finality.” Actual demarcation of the disputed border has been the main obstacle to reaching lasting peace.
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