January 17, 2002
The United Nations is sending a mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea to try to prevent a forthcoming ruling on their long-running border dispute leading to a resumption of hostilities. An international commission is expected to give a final ruling next month on demarcating the disputed border line, which led to an armed conflict lasting for nearly two years.
"It's a tense and important moment in the peace process and we need to make sure this goes right," a council envoy told Reuters news agency. A ceasefire was agreed in December 2000, and a UN peacekeeping force was deployed along the border.
A statement by the Security Council said the situation had remained calm since then, despite mutual accusations of a military build up in the buffer zone.
Binding decision
The UN mission is expected to be led by Norwegian Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby and start a week before the end of February, when the international arbitration commission is due to deliver its ruling.
The council stressed that the international commission's verdict was "final and binding" and "has the full support of the international community."
After the line on the map is decided, the border then has to be physically marked on the ground, despite the presence of land mines in the area.
Ethiopia and Eritrea, who went to war in May 1998, agreed to respect the decisions of the commission. The United Nations has sent a 4,200 strong force to monitor a 25km-wide security zone.
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