Commission for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission

15 May 2001
CCPM/055/01
Press Release

Eritrea Protests Ethiopian Army Presence in the TSZ

Eritrea had lodged a formal protest to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) regarding new and additional incursions into the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) by the Ethiopian army. In a letter yesterday to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Ambassador Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, Commissioner Andebrhan informed the UNMEE that the Ethiopian army has occupied new areas in the TSZ in Aromo (grid location 525187) and the area between Kesad Emba and Meketa (grid location 541221).

Ethiopian forces, at present, continue to occupy several areas deep inside the TSZ. Eritrea has lodged repeated protests regarding these violations to UNMEE. The Commissioner underlined that these constant and continuing violations pose a grave threat to the peace process.

The Commissioner protested the continued presence of Ethiopian forces in all three sectors of the TSZ as a blatant violation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. He underscored that Ethiopia's new incursions posed a serious threat to the ongoing return of the internally displaced population to their homes and villages. The Commissioner called on UNMEE to "take all necessary measures to address Ethiopia's continued violations" and urged the UN Mission to "ensure full respect for the agreed upon limits of the TSZ in line with its mandate."

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