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UN Confirms Completion of Ethiopia's Troops Redeployment
The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) confirmed Wednesday that the Ethiopian government has completed the redeployment of its armed forces to the southern boundary of the future Temporary Security Zone (TSZ).
"I am satisfied with the verification of the southern boundary and can now confirm that the Ethiopian forces are outside the prospective TSZ," UNMEE Force Commander Major-General Patrick Cammaert was quoted as saying by a UN press release issued here.
"The UNMEE peacekeeping force stands ready to carry out its mandate of monitoring the parties' compliance with the security agreements, and enabling civilians to return home," said Cammaert.
The release described the verification as "an important development" in the establishment of the prospective TSZ, the 25- kilometer-wide buffer zone between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
It noted that the UNMEE's verification process involved air reconnaissance, vehicle patrols and global positioning satellite measurements across the southern boundary, which is 900 kilometers long.
Meanwhile, the Eritrean government has rearranged substantial numbers of its forces to the northern boundary of the prospective TSZ.
In line with the peace agreement, Eritrea has been rearranging its forces to the northern boundary of the TSZ since February 17 and the process culminates on March 3, thus the time limit for the setting up of the TSZ.
However, the release said that a significant concentration of Eritrean troops remains in all three sectors of the future TSZ.
Eritrea has informed the UNMEE that the decision to halt rearranging its forces is based on strong objections to adjustments made to the original map of the future TSZ as agreed to at the third meeting in Nairobi of the Military Coordination Commission.
UNMEE is currently engaged in attempting to resolve the impasse at the highest levels so that the TSZ can be established, and allow for civilians to return to their homes.
"The establishment of the TSZ is a vital step in the peace process," said Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, UNMEE special representative.
"We want both parties to move ahead with resolve. A functioning TSZ is a matter of critical importance, not only for the affected communities but also as a signal to the international community," added Legwaila who is expected to leave for New York on 9 March for consultations on the peace process between the two countries.
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