| Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 16, 2001 Ethiopia/Eritrea: U.S. Concern Over Peace Process ImplementationThe United States remains committed to the success of the Ethiopian-Eritrean peace process and is encouraged by the progress that has been made thus far. The parties have strictly adhered to the cease-fire for over nine months and the United Nations Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea has moved rapidly to deploy almost 4000 peacekeepers to the region. The next and crucial step will be the establishment of a 25-kilometer wide Temporary Security Zone between the two former combatants. Once this zone has been formally established, the process of delimiting and demarcating the border between the two countries can proceed. Unfortunately, disagreements by the two parties over the borders of the temporary security zone have delayed its establishment. The Ethiopian-Eritrean peace process is at a crucial point and the zone must be established quickly to allow the peace process to proceed. Further delay will complicate the operation of the UN peacekeeping mission and raise concerns in the international community about the commitment of the parties to peace. The United States reiterates its support for the efforts of Special Representative of the Secretary General, Ambassador Legwaila, to resolve the current impasse. We call on the two parties to accept Ambassador Legwaila’s efforts to resolve these issues, keeping in mind that the zone is a temporary arrangement and that a Boundary Commission will determine the permanent border between the two countries. [end] |
 | |||
|
