Addis
Ababa, July 10 (ENA)--Eritrea has been deploying its regular troops to the
Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) under the cover of police and militia, Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi said on Tuesday.
During
talks with the UN secretary general Kofi Annan in the Zambian capital Lusaka,
Meles said Eritrea has been deploying its regular army in violation of the
Algiers peace accord.
He
warned that Eritrea would bear full responsibility for the unsuitability and
tension that could take place in the region.
Anna
told Meles on the occasion that the UN was aware of the grave situation on the
ground and has been following the developments with serious concerns.
The
UN has held discussions with the government of Eritrea about the deteriorating
situation in the region, the Ethiopian minister of foreign affairs Seyoum Mesfin
quoted the secretary general as saying.
Prime
Minister Meles and Annan have also exchanged views about opening direct Air
routes between Addis Ababa and Asmara to facilitate the needs of the
peacekeeping forces.
Meles
said his government has been working with full force to implement the Algiers
peace accord in good faith.
The
Prime Minister also assured the secretary general that the peacekeeping forces
can use any route of their choices except one route that the Ethiopia government
considers sensitive to its national security.
Ethiopia
has been cooperating with the peacekeeping forces for the success of their
mission, he said, however due to the intransigence of the government in Asmara
the peacekeepers couldn’t open direct lines between the capitals of the two
countries, Seyoum quoted the prime minister as saying.
Meles
told the secretary general that Eritrea should stop its contempt to the
international community and be told in black and white to effectively implement
the Algiers peace pact.
The
two officials have also exchanged views on a wide range of issues that exist
between the government of Ethiopia and the world body.
(END)