Ethiopia, Eritrea not upbeat

2006-03-15 20:05

Asmara - Feuding neighbours Ethiopia and Eritrea have given a lukewarm response tp talks in London aimed at unlocking their border stalemate, despite a UN assessment that they had made progress on the issue.

The UN said on Monday the two Horn of Africa nations had agreed to resume marking out their disputed border, after their respective legal experts met with international mediators in London at the weekend.

At the end of a 1998-2000 border war that killed about 70 000 people, they agreed the ruling of an independent boundary commission would be "final and binding."

But Ethiopia later rejected the decision and insisted on further talks.

Eritrean presidential adviser, Yemane Ghebremeskel, acknowledged that the practical aspects of marking out the border had been discussed with the commission, but said there was no evidence Addis Ababa had budged on its stance.

'Did Ethiopia act in good faith'?

"I think the critical point is whether there is progress on the cardinal issue: has Ethiopia accepted the boundary commission (ruling) in good faith and are they going to implement it faithfully and strictly," he said on Tuesday.

"I think the formal statement from Ethiopia's foreign ministry does not encourage one to think in those optimistic terms," he added.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday saying its five-point peace plan was the best option for peace.

First issued in November 2004, the proposal includes an acceptance of the commission's ruling "in principle," with an insistence on discussing some parts of the decision.

Eritrea rejected the proposal at the time, saying Ethiopia was playing games.

But Addis Ababa appeared adamant.

"We are convinced that Ethiopia's peace proposal is the most realistic roadmap for peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the sole approach for success, both with respect to the successful demarcation of the boundary and for normalisation of relations between the two countries," the statement said.

- Reuters