Border ruling delayed by a month

The decision on delimitation of the boundary between Ethiopia and Eritrea has been delayed by a month, the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) announced on Friday. The international Boundary Commission, based in The Hague, will now announce the results at the end of March. Both countries had expected the ruling by the end of this month. The commission was set up after the 1998-2000 border war between the two countries, which have agreed to accept the ruling. An UNMEE spokesperson said the delay had been caused by "technical reasons". Sources with UNMEE told IRIN that the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, only became aware of the delay on Tuesday. "The Boundary Commission keep themselves completely independent from us which we are quite happy about," the source said. Observers say the delay may allow further advocacy work by the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments to take place in preparation for the decision. Despite the delay, a visit by a delegation of the UN Security Council will still go ahead later this month. The head of the 15-strong delegation, Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby of Norway, has said it is a "critical time" for both countries.