Sides called to The Hague for border talks

Ethiopia and Eritrea traded accusations this week after a high-level meeting to iron out any potential problems over the border ruling, announced last month.

It is the first time they have met in The Hague since the ruling was announced on 13 April. The two-day meeting, which began on Tuesday, was called by the independent Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) to discuss modalities for the physical demarcation of the border.

Political tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been increasing since the decision – which both countries agreed was “final and binding” - was made. In particular, both countries have claimed they were awarded the disputed village of Badme – where their bitter two-year war first erupted.

The United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary General, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, who heads the 4,200-strong peacekeeping force in Ethiopia and Eritrea, accompanied officials of the two countries to The Hague.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ethiopian government reacted angrily to comments by Eritrea that it was undermining the peace process. “The Ethiopian government wishes to make clear its full and continuing commitment to the peace process,” the Ethiopian foreign ministry said. It claimed Eritrea had "attacked the integrity of the [Boundary] Commission" and "raised issues so fundamental as to place in doubt the seriousness of the Eritrean commitment to the continuation of the peace process".

An earlier statement from the Eritrean foreign ministry said Ethiopia had demanded that the Commission "reconsider and 'correct'" the 13 April decision.

“Ethiopia's memorandum demands, among other things, that the Commission redraw the boundary to give Ethiopia sovereignty over towns on the Eritrean side of the line whenever Ethiopia can come up with evidence of Ethiopian 'administration'", the statement said. It added that this demand "follows a month of Ethiopian military and diplomatic intimidation”.

Earlier this month, Ethiopia closed its border to the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) and demanded the removal of the Force Commander, Major General Patrick Cammaert.

“Ethiopia has now reopened UNMEE access into the area 'provisionally' but threatens that it can close the area, again, whenever it wants to,” the Eritrean statement added. "Any tampering with the Award of 13 April threatens to unravel the entire [peace] process."