Garbage news coverage from Reuters

On your news item dated Thu Mar 31, 2005 08:50 AM ET under the headline Ethiopia and Eritrea in Danger of
War Again, U.N. Says by Ed Harris; it is claimed that it (Security Council) criticized Eritrea's refusal to
hold talks with the border commission and Ethiopia in London. Ed Harris continues to claim that Eritrea
refused categorically, and rejected the commission's invitation to talks in London in February and also a
visit from U.N. Special Envoy Lloyd Axworthy.

It is really mind boggling how a journalist can write such kind of misinformation based on total fabrication
and outright lie to defame a peaceful and law abiding nation such as my country Eritrea. Eritrea has no
reason to refuse any invitation from the commission or to hold talks with them since it has already fulfilled
and is still fulfilling all requirements asked from her by the commission.

The correct UN resolution is written as follows:

"Expressing concern about Ethiopia's ongoing rejection
of significant parts of the Boundary Commission's
decision, and its current lack of cooperation with the
Commission, including the refusal to participate in
the meeting of 22 February 2005".
(http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/sc8334.doc.htm).
Not as what Ed Harris wants us to know.

The border commission has this to say in its report to
the UN:

6. Ethiopia is not prepared to allow demarcation to
continue in the manner laid down in the Demarcation Directions and in
accordance with the timeline set by the Commission. It now insists on
prior "dialogue" but has rejected the opportunity for such dialogue within the
framework of the demarcation process provided by the Commissions
proposal to meet with the Parties on 22 February. This is the latest in a series
of obstructive actions taken since the summer of 2002 and belies the
frequently professed acceptance by Ethiopia of the Delimitation Decision.

7. In view of the refusal of Ethiopia to attend the 22 February meeting, the Commission

had no alternative but to cancel it. However, given the gravity of the situation, the Commission decided that
it would itself meet on that date."

It is imperative to expect professional news coverage from Reuter's journalists and hopes that such criteria
will be applied in the future; immediate action should also be taken against this garbage news coverage and
its reporter.

Sincerely
Ghilay

By Ed Harris
ASMARA, Eritrea (Reuters) - An increasingly
belligerent border stalemate between Ethiopia and
Eritrea could lead to renewed war, the top U.N.
peacekeeper in the conflict said on Thursday.
The two Horn of Africa countries fought a 1998-2000
border war that killed an estimated 70,000 people.
Under a deal to end the conflict, both agreed to
accept an independent commission's decision on where
the border should be. But Ethiopia was unhappy with
the April 2002 ruling that gave a disputed border town
to Eritrea. Eritrea has demanded the commission
decision be accepted in full.
In recent months more Ethiopian troops have moved
closer to the frontier, raising the temperature in the
volatile region.
"The stalemate is firmly wedged between these two
irreconcilable positions. The danger of the continued
stalemate is war," said Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, head
of the U.N. peacekeeping mission that patrols a
security zone between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
"The longer there is no solution to the stalemate, the
more it becomes very difficult to monitor a temporary
security zone, while violent rhetoric is emanating
from both capitals," he told a news conference.
Legwaila said a March 14 U.N. Security Council
resolution extending the peacekeeping mission in
Eritrea and Ethiopia was too weak.
"This resolution should have been more forceful to
indicate to the parties that the U.N. Security Council
is running out of patience," Legwaila said.
"As a peacekeeper, I was disappointed because I did
not think there was enough meat in it."
It followed a stronger report from U.N.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan that criticized Ethiopia
for moving as many as 48,000 troops close to the
border in December.
It also criticized Eritrea's refusal to hold talks
with the border commission and Ethiopia in London. [this is fabrication]
In November, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
said he had accepted the border ruling "in principle,"
but wanted talks with Asmara first.
Eritrea refused categorically, and rejected the
commission's invitation to talks in London in February [this is fabrication]
and also a visit from U.N. Special Envoy Lloyd
Axworthy.

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