US impressed by “commitment”

Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice, said in a press conference in Washington that she was impressed by the continued statements of commitment to the peace deal expressed by both countries. She made the remarks after a three-day trip to the Horn of Africa. There would be “bumps in the road”, she acknowledged, in reference to concern about continued disagreements between the two parties.

There are concerns about the continuing differences between the Ethiopia and Eritrea over the disputed boundary as the US seeks to lift an arm embargo imposed by the UN on Ethiopia and Eritrea. Diplomatic sources in Washington told Reuters that the US planned to seek another vote on the resolution on Thursday or Friday. Last Wednesday, Washington called off a vote at the last minute after failing to line up broad support in the 15-nation council, where many members believed the action to be premature, Reuters said. Without council action, the embargo will expire in May.