UN mission preparing demining support for demarcation of Ethiopia, Eritrea border

The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) today announced plans to provide demining support for the effort to demarcate the border between the two countries.

The Mission's move is based on the expectation that the UN Security Council will soon formally mandate UNMEE to provide such assistance, according to a UN spokesperson.

By the end of the week, all three UNMEE personnel with the Mine Action Coordination Centre Boundary Commission will have assumed their duties, spokesperson Diane Bailey told the press in Asmara.

The Government of Eritrea had issued a proclamation on 8 July establishing an Eritrean Demining Authority. On Tuesday, the head of the Eritrean Commission for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission, Brigadier General Abrahaley Kifle, addressed a meeting of mine action non-governmental organizations and UN personnel to explain the ramifications of the declaration.

Further negotiations are continuing with the Eritrean Authorities to ascertain the Proclamation's long-term impact on humanitarian mine action activities within Eritrea, Ms. Bailey said.