Schroeder lauded Ethiopia for decision
to “accept” border ruling
BERLIN,
Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder praised Ethiopia on
Thursday for taking an "important step" towards settling its border
dispute with neighboring Eritrea.
A
statement issued by Thomas Steg, deputy spokesman for Schroeder, said that the
chancellor welcomed the announcement of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
that his country had accepted "in principle" the ruling on its border
with Eritrea madeby an independent commission four years ago.
"This
is an important step" and gives new impulse to the mediation efforts,
Schroeder was quoted as saying.
He
also urged both sides of the conflict to return to the negotiation table and
solve remaining problems concerning the border dispute.
Ethiopia
and Eritrea fought a bloody border war between May 1998 and December 2000. As
part of a 2000 agreement to end the war,the two countries agreed to set up an
independent boundary commission.
Eritrea
accepted the April 2002 ruling of the commission, while Ethiopia rejected and
called it "illegal and unjust." Enditem
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