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Eritrea dismisses extension of UN border mission |
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Saturday, 04 August 2007 |
ASMARA -- Eritrea Saturday dismissed a United Nations decision to extend by six months the mandate of its mission monitoring a disputed border with arch-foe Ethiopia.
Asmara also accused the world body of failing to put pressure on Ethiopia to accept a 2002 ruling by an independent boundary commission.
"The [UN Security] Council has once again revealed its consent to remain a springboard for endless deployment of peacekeeping contingents," the state-run Eritrea Profile newspaper said in an editorial.
Ethiopia has called a revision of the ruling that awarded a flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea, arguing that it will split families and villages between the two countries.
But Eritrea has repeatedly rejected the call.
"The Ethiopian government, honoring its commitment to the EEBC [Ethiopia Eritrea Boundary Commission] ruling, must implement the border demarcation," the editorial said.
"There is no other option. Nothing at all."
On Monday, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to extend the mission's mandate and urged the Horn of Africa foes to refrain from provocative military activities.
Eritrea has often complained that the international community has not done enough to make Ethiopia accept the new border and has steadily ratcheted up rhetoric and pressure to push its point.
The boundary commission has invited both sides to talks in New York scheduled for September 6, aimed at pushing forward the physical demarcation of the frontier.
However, while both sides have expressed doubts about the seriousness of each other's intentions, they have said they would be willing to attend.
The independent panel is due to dissolve in November, and the frontier will be fixed on maps if no progress is made.
The EEBC has repeatedly expressed its frustration at hard-line stances on both sides that have prevented the physical marking of the border. |
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