Addis Ababa, August 16 (ENA)--Special representative of the UN secretary general Legwaila Joseph Legwaila says the demining activity along the Ethio-Eritrean border and the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) is going on at a slow rate.

In an exclusive interview with ENA on Wednesday, Legwaila said the presence of mines and unexploded ordinance was still a threat to the restoration of a normal life along a significant portion of the boarder area.

Legwaila, who is also head of the United Nations Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), says "I don't think we can remove all the mines before UNMEE's mission ends. "

He said UNMEE and the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea should take the leading role in dealing with the landmine disposal .

Fortunately, there have not been many mine explosions during the return of massive numbers of displaced people to the TSZ, the mission head said .

UNMEE's Slovak and Bangladeshi demining units were currently undertaking the disposal of landmines and unexploded ordinance in the field.

The returning and rehabilitation of internally displaced people to TSZ and adjacent areas were well underway , Legwaila said.

Asked whether the current political condition in Ethiopia and Eritrea affect the mission of UNMEE, the special representative said the existing political situations in the two countries have not at all impeded UNMEE's activities and the peace process.

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