Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Date: 23 Aug 2001
ASMARA,
23 Aug (AFP) - Eritrea expects it will soon
begin demobilizing the 200,000 soldiers still at the front, as long as there
can be a lasting peace with Ethiopia, the head of the National Commission for
Demobilization said Thursday.
"The government is
committed, willing, and ready to demobilize our troops in accordance with the
peace process. But everything depends on whether peace will be sustainable,"
Tekeste Fekadu told AFP after a three-day workshop on demobilization organised
by the commission and attended by government officials.
After two years of war,
Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in June last
year and then a comprehensive peace accord in December.
The seminar outlined
strategies and procedures for how to effectively reintegrate soldiers into
civilian life, and highlighted the need for adequate support systems to aid
soldiers in finding jobs and resettling in their communities.
The government is
awaiting funding from the World Bank and has estimated that a successful
demobilization plan would cost 200 million dollars, Tekeste said.
The demobilization plan
entails a three-phased strategy, commencing with the demobilization of 60,000
soldiers in the first phase, followed by 70,000 in the second phase, and the
remaining 70,000 in the last phase.
Government
representatives are scheduled to meet with the World Bank next week in
Washington.
Tekeste said that once
funding is secured, the first 60,000 soldiers could be demobilized within the
next month or two.
"Communities are
anxious to have the soldiers back and help them to reintegrate. The private
sector is eager to receive them. And the soldiers are willing to be
demobilized," said Tekeste.
"But everything
depends on the peace process. And if Ethiopia keeps refusing to abide by the
peace agreement, we can't be sure of them."
The United Nations has
deployed about 3,500 peacekeepers to monitor a 25-kilometer (15 mile) wide
buffer zone separating the two armies.
While the ceasefire is
holding, both governments continue to accuse each other of violating the
agreements and there is increasing speculation here about whether war might
erupt again.
rr/afm/bp AFP
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Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 08/23/2001
13:28:08
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