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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Boundary Commission due to meet

ADDIS ABABA, 18 November 2003 (IRIN) - An independent commission set up to resolve the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea is expected to hold key talks in London on Wednesday over the stalled demarcation.

The Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC), created under a deal to end the 1998-2000 war, will meet to discuss the current impasse, sources close to the process told IRIN.

It is the first time that the EEBC has met since indefinitely suspending demarcation of the new 1,000 km border.

The Hague-based body, made up of five international lawyers (two each chosen by the sides), announced late last month it was unable to carry out its work “under the current circumstances”.

Ethiopia has refused to accept parts of the EEBC ruling which places Badme – where the war flared up - in Eritrea.

Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, head of the 4,200-strong UN peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), will attend the London talks as an observer.

The border talks also come as members of the Ottawa-based Canadian parliament expressed “alarm” over Ethiopia’s refusal to accept last year’s decision in full.

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade called on the Canadian government to “increase the pressure” on Ethiopia to accept the ruling.

The MPs said while they acknowledged the “controversial nature of the Badme decision” and the “catalyst role” it played in sparking the war, the decision must be implemented.

The move follows a similar stand by congressmen in the House of Representatives urging the US to restrict support to both countries if they do not comply with the peace deal.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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