Press Release
22 March 2001
CCPM/029/01

Commissioner Andebrhan Meets with Special Representative Legwaila

Commissioner for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission, Ambassador Andebrhan called on Special Representative of the Secretary General, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila at the Special Representative's Asmara office this morning. At the meeting, Special Representative Legwaila briefed the Commissioner on the outcome of his trip to New York and on his discussions with the UN Security Council as well as the Secretariat regarding the work of the UN Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia. The Special Representative thanked the Government of Eritrea for its continued cooperation with UNMEE and made special note of the submission, by Eritrea, of comprehensive minefield information.

Commissioner Andebrhan welcomed the Special Representative back and thanked him for his hard work in the peace process and assured him, despite the existing complications, of Eritrea's unswerving commitment to peace. Commissioner Andebrhan informed the Special Representative that Eritrea had submitted its exhaustive and comprehensive information on mines, despite these complications, to underscore this commitment.

The Commissioner stressed the grave and urgent concern of the Eritrean Government with Ethiopia's failure to deliver its minefield information despite its obligation to do so under the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. He added that Ethiopia's initial claims to have laid no mines, now compounded by the claim that it kept no records, is untenable. He informed the Special Representative that Ethiopia's continued nuisance mining of occupied Eritrean areas targets civilians, and that the UN must take the necessary steps to bring about Ethiopia's compliance with its obligations in this serious matter.

The two officials discussed other issues relating to the work of UNMEE and agreed on the need for progress on matters pending the urgent resolution of the complications arising from attempts to change the agreed location of the TSZ.

###