Former Canadian foreign minister offers Ethiopia-Eritrea mediation
Source: BBC Monitoring Africa
Publication date: 2003-12-09


Text of report by Radio Canada International audio web site on 9 December

A former Canadian foreign minister, Lloyd Axworthy, says he would be willing to serve as a mediator to help solve the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. Mr Axworthy says he met on Monday [8 December] with the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, to discuss that possibility. The former foreign minister says he is willing to make the effort to mediate but that it is up to Mr Annan to decide. Ethiopia has asked the world body's help in solving the dispute.

Mr Axworthy was Canada's foreign minister from 1996 to 2000. Internationally, he is best remembered as a promoter of the international treaty banning landmines.

Publication date: 2003-12-09