Talks could help, UN says

The UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) said on Thursday that talks between the two countries could be "beneficial" for the peace process.

However Eritrea has dismissed any notion of talks on the border issue as “unthinkable”. Acting Information Minister Ali Abdu Ahmed told IRIN the issue was "closed and hermetically sealed".

Demarcation of an internationally recognised 1,000 km border is expected to begin in July, according to the independent Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC). But Ethiopia is contesting the ruling by the EEBC which puts the village of Badme - where the border war was triggered - in Eritrean territory, and has called for changes to the decision.

Ali Abdu said the ruling "made it crystal clear that the case was put to rest once and for all".

Sainte acknowledged that the dispute could have implications in delaying demarcation which is due to start in the eastern sector.

“At the moment it is obvious that if there are issues between Ethiopia and the EEBC, which there are, it must affect the work to some extent,” she told a weekly press briefing, video-linked
between both capitals.

She added that there had been “no indication of any proximity talks” between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Diplomats in Addis Ababa say the international community is keen to promote such talks between the two governments.

“I think that UNMEE have always thought that dialogue between the two countries would be beneficial but it is really up to them to decide when they would like to do that," said Sainte. “UNMEE can only offer its help if it is requested to do so, we cannot impose help."

The only exchanges between the two countries take place at the Military Coordination Commission (MCC) meetings between senior-ranking armed forces officials under UN auspices.

UNMEE also dismissed claims by Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki that preparations for war were underway in Ethiopia.

“I think UNMEE has made its statement on that and the force commander has been very clear that as far as we are concerned we have not seen any troops amassing on the border," Sainte stated.

“We have seen nothing to make us feel that war is imminent and that is all that UNMEE can comment on. President Isayas is entitled as the president of a sovereign country to make whatever remarks he wishes.”