Peace process "on track"

Despite continued differences between the two sides the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea is “on track” a spokesman for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) said on Friday. Speaking from Addis Ababa with a live video-link to Asmara, Jean Victor Nkolo told IRIN that he was satisfied that the mission was making progress with regard to ongoing demining activities, the restoration of the UNMEE radio services which were suspended in October and freedom of movement for UNMEE forces stationed in and around the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). “I am confident that everything is on track,” said Nkolo.

Nkolo also said that the Foreign Ministers of Ethiopia and Eritrea had met yesterday with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and said that they would also meet with the UN Security Council later on Friday.

Nkolo described the TSZ as being “calm” but once again called for both sides, and Eritrea in particular, to respect and allow the freedom of movement of UNMEE forces in and around the TSZ. He said that between 8th and 14th November UNMEE forces in Eritrea had been denied freedom of movement 33 times in areas adjacent to the TSZ. He said that UNMEE had encountered problems from the Eritrean authorities with regard to the freedom of movement of their forces almost from the start of the mission. “At first we thought it was a misunderstanding but now we believe this is a policy.”