Annan faces Meles over Ethiopia’s defiance of border ruling
Addis
Ababa, July 4, 2004 -- United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan faced
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Sunday over Ethiopia’s blatant
defiance of border ruling, which has stalled the peace process with Eritrea, UN
officials said.
Annan
and Meles discussed issues related to the peace process that has barely
advanced because of Ethiopia’s adamant defiance of the conclusive, final and
binding ruling of an independent Boundary Commission in April of 2002. Other
issues pertinent to the region were also discussed, added the officials.
Ethiopia
declared the ruling null and void, unilaterally dismantled the Boundary
Commission, and forcefully prevented the implementation of the border ruling.
Consequently, the border itself is still closed to all but UN peacekeepers, and
relations between Asmara and Addis Ababa are virtually non-existent. All that
under the watchful eyes of the African Union, European Union, the United
States, and the UN, all of which have submitted written committment to
implement the boundary ruling as decided, wherever the chips may fall, and by
whatever means is provided under UN Chapter VII?
Some 4,200 UN peacekeepers patrol a temporary security
zone established on Eritrean territory along the border with Ethiopia, at an
annual cost of 200 million dollars (160 million euros).
On
Saturday, Annan met Eritrean leader Issaias Afeworki in Asmara, where he
expressed deep concerns at the pace of the talks between the two nations.
On
Monday, Annan will attend a forum, also in Addis Ababa, to discuss ways of
fighting hunger in Africa, the world's poorest continent.
Shortly
before his departure on Tuesday, Annan will attend the opening session of the
African Union, AU summit.
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