The United Nations special envoy for Eritrea and Ethiopia, Lloyd Axworthy, said on Thursday that Asmara had shown reservation to his visit, but vowed to continue his efforts to resolve the border dispute between the two states.
”The Eritrean president is showing reservation to my mission, but I am used to doors being slammed on my face,” said Axworthy.
”I am persistent and I am good at opening them. I will be in the region as long as it takes,” Axworthy, who arrived in Addis Ababa early on Thursday, told reporters.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Axworthy, a former Canadian foreign minister, last month in a bid to resolve the border dispute over which Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a brutal two-year war.
The war’s end was capped with a peace accord signed in Algiers in 2000 that committed both nations to accept the ruling of an independent commission to determine their 1 000km border.
But Ethiopia rejected the commission’s decision after it awarded the border town of Badme to Eritrea.
Axworthy is due to have talks with Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi and Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin. He will also have a meeting with the president of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare.
Ethiopia has already expressed its willingness to work with Axworthy, but Eritrea has questioned his role, saying Asmara will not accept mediation until Ethiopia accepts the ruling of the independent boundary commission that Badme belongs to Eritrea.
Ethiopia’s rejection of the border commission’s decision has led to the indefinite delay of the physical demarcation of the frontier.
”There is prospect of a piecemeal demarcation this year,” said Axworthy. – Sapa-AFP