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Ethiopia, Eritrea get ultimatum
09/03/2006 17:30 - (SA)
Nairobi - International mediators have called Eritrea and Ethiopia to a meeting to resolve a border dispute that led to a two-year war, but it was not clear if Eritrea would attend.
The meeting was scheduled for London on Friday and Saturday.
While Ethiopia, whose opposition has stalled border demarcation, promised to send representatives, it was not clear if Eritrea would do the same, said diplomats.
They were speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the meeting.
A frustrated Eritrea has said there was no need for more talks and that the international community should simply ensure the border ruling was implemented.
The chairperson of the International Boundary Commission, set up to resolve the bitter dispute that sparked the bloody 1998-2000 war, issued a statement in New York late on Wednesday, saying he was seeking a meeting. He did not give any further details.
Consent sought
Sir Elihu Lauterpacht said: "Although there has been little change in the situation, the commission considers that a further attempt should now be made to secure the consent of both parties to the resumption of the demarcation process that was interrupted in 2003.
"It is, therefore, seeking to arrange a meeting with the parties in early March 2006."
Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, after a 30-year guerrilla war, but their 1 000km border was never settled.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has reiterated earlier warnings that the protracted stalemate between the two countries has become "increasingly untenable."
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