Arch-rival Horn of Africa neighbours Ethiopia and Eritrea blamed each other on Friday for the failure of talks aimed at ending the deadlock over their tense border that many fear could spark a new war.
The two countries accused each other of holding to longstanding inflexible positions even as mediators attempted to negotiate a breakthrough at a two-day meeting of an international boundary commission in London this week.
Asmara blamed the stalemate on Addis Ababa’s refusal to accept the panel’s binding 2002 border demarcation that followed the deal ending their bloody 1998-2000 war, saying ”no progress” was achieved in London.
At the same time, Addis Ababa said it had met its obligations and that Asmara was responsible for the current situation as it is refusing to comply with United Nations demands to lift restrictions on peacekeepers monitoring the border.
”On the critical matter — Ethiopia’s rejection of the boundary commission’s decision — there was no progress,” said Yemane Gebremeskel, the director of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s office.
”Ethiopia repeated that it accepts the ruling in principle but that in practise it has to be altered,” he told Agence France-Presse. ”But the boundary commission has made it clear that that position is not legal.”
Ethiopia has repeatedly called for the review of the border ruling, which awarded the flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea, arguing it unfairly splits families and homes between the two countries.
Eritrea has rejected that stance, arguing that the demarcation is final and has loudly complained that the international community has not done enough to press Ethiopia to accept the decision.
As a sign of frustration, Asmara slapped wide-ranging restrictions on the UN border mission, there called UNMEE, restricting patrols, grounding helicopters flights as well as expelling all Western staff attached to the mission.
It has thus far ignored UN Security Council threats to impose sanctions if the restrictions are not lifted, prompting accusations from Ethiopia that Eritrea is not committed to peace.
”Ethiopia fulfilled every obligation … and attended the meeting with an open mind, but there is no flexibility on the Eritrean side,” an official in the Ethiopian foreign ministry told AFP on Friday.
”They are not ready to lift the sanctions imposed on UNMEE’s movements,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Diplomats in Addis Ababa said they did not believe the demarcation could be implemented without the Eritrean restrictions being lifted.
Yemane said Eritrea might be prepared to ease them, but only after Ethiopia accepted in full the new boundary.
”The critical issue is demarcation,” he said. ”Logistical arrangements can be discussed once it starts. Ethiopia’s position is clear, the question now is what does the Security Council do?”
On Monday, the Security Council postponed by two weeks a decision on whether to downgrade UNMEE pending a possible breakthrough in the London talks. — AFP
