Voicing concern about escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on the two Horn of Africa neighbors to show maximum restraint and abide by the accords that ended their border war seven years ago. Of particular concern are “recent shooting incidents, as well as the building up of military forces in the border area,” according to a statement issued by the secretary-general's office. Ban called on the two countries to exercise “utmost restraint,” maintain their commitment to the Algiers Agreements-the accords that ended the border war in 2000-and preserve the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone, where the United Nations has deployed a peacekeeping missing. The secretary-general also urged both nations to facilitate the implementation of the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission regarding the demarcation of their border. In 2002, the commission issued a final and binding decision awarding to Eritrea the town of Badme, whose possession triggered fighting between the two states from 1998 to 2000.
