From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sat Feb 21 2009 - 15:51:47 EST
Eritrea Rejects Mediation On Ethiopia Border Row
Published: February 21, 2009 15:49h
Eritrea is also involved in a border dispute with Djibouti. The two
sides clashed last year and tensions have remained high.
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has rejected any effort to mediate a
border dispute with arch-foe Ethiopia, calling it a "wicked ploy", state
media said on Saturday.
The once-close Horn of Africa neighbours have been locked in a bitter
row over their 1000-km (625-mile) frontier since a 1998-2000 war that
killed 70,000 people.
Last week, Ethiopia said it supported efforts by Libyan leader and new
African Union chairman Muammar Gaddafi to arbitrate between Addis Ababa
and Asmara, but doubted the manoeuvre would be successful.
"The political and diplomatic campaigns undertaken by (Ethiopia) ... are
but wicked ploys designed to appease the Eritrean people and
international community," state media quoted Isaias as saying.
"He further underlined that as long as sovereign Eritrean territories
remain under occupation, engaging in dialogue about any issue is totally
illogical," it said on the government website, www.shabait.com.
A 2002 border decision gave the flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea, but
Ethiopia initially rejected it. Addis Ababa has since said it wants more
talks.
Eritrea is also involved in a border dispute with Djibouti. The two
sides clashed last year and tensions have remained high.
In mid-January, the U.N. Security Council gave Eritrea five weeks to
withdraw its forces from the Red Sea coastal area of Ras Doumeira and
Doumeira Island. Asmara has rejected the call.
http://www.javno.com/en-world/eritrea-rejects-mediation-on-ethiopia-bord
er-row_236396