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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Military leaders to meet in Djibouti

ADDIS ABABA, 19 March 2003 (IRIN) - Military leaders from Ethiopia and Eritrea were due to meet in Djibouti on Wednesday as the war of words over border demarcation intensifies.

The talks, part of the regular Military Coordination Commission (MCC) meetings held under UN auspices, come amid growing tension between the two sides with border demarcation just over three months away.

Senior sources close to the peace process said the MCC meetings are vital in ensuring the momentum of the process. But, they added, they expected little headway to be made at the day-long talks in Djibouti given the current frosty relations.

Last April, an independent Boundary Commission issued a "final and binding" decision on the new border between the two countries following their 1998-2000 war. But lately Ethiopia has been seeking changes to the border line and Eritrea has warned of the possibility of renewed war unless the issue is addressed.

Brigadier-General Yohannes Gebremeskel is expected to lead Ethiopia's military team to this 16th MCC meeting, while Eritrea's delegation will be headed by Brigadier-General Abrahaley Kifle. The MCC meetings resumed in December after a seven-month delay.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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