UN peacekeepers are expected to be deployed in Ethiopia and Eritrea by the end of this week, diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa told IRIN. “Military observers will be deployed by the end of the week, and we expect to see the first “blue helmets” on the front line,” said the source on Monday. A UN official told IRIN that the authorised deployment of 4,200 troops for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was “one of the fastest UN deployments seen”. Despite some continued problems with access to the disputed zone, and agreement on an air corridor between the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the speedy and successful establishment of the mission had been attributed to good cooperation from the two governments, said the source. With the establishment of the peacekeepers, the two governments may feel encouraged to negotiate a more substantial political settlement, said the source. So far, the two sides have agreed on a ceasefire, but refuse to hold direct talks and have not managed to reach a negotiated settlement.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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