The first stumble in implementing the Eritrean- Ethiopian agreement

Ethiopia has renewed its position towards Eritrea. It stressed it will not withdraw its forces from the territories of its neighbor unless the government of Asmara will fulfil its obligations relating to redeployment of its troops.

The Ethiopian ministry of defense said that the withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces from the Eritrean territories will be postponed until unlimited time because of Asmara's hesitation to implement the re-deployment agreement included in the peace agreement signed between the two countries.

The ministry's statement added that Ethiopia will consider its withdrawal after the redeployment of the UN forces along the joint borders between the two countries.

The peace agreement signed between Ethiopia and Eritrea in Algeria in December 2000 states to re-deploy UN forces of 4200 troopers in a provisional security area of 25 kilometers width inside Eritrea in order to monitor the withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces and re-deployment of the Eritrean forces.