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Ethiopia Redeploys Troops to Establish Buffer Zone
Ethiopia Monday began to redeploy its forces as the first step towards the establishment of a buffer zone between it and its former belligerent Eritrea.
The formation of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) is an essential part of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), said a UNMEE newsrelease.
At last week's meeting of the Military Coordination Commission (MCC), the parties agreed that Ethiopia will begin its redeployment to the TSZ's southern boundary on February 12, and Eritrea will begin to rearrange its forces to the northern boundary on February 17, said the release.
On last Saturday, the UN Force Commander Patrick Cammaert declared that he had a "credible force" of peacekeepers on the ground to begin the establishment of the TSZ, a 25-kilometer-wide buffer zone that will separate the two parties' forces.
"Today is an important day in the establishment of the TSZ, which is vital to the continuing peace process," the Force Commander was quoted as saying Monday.
"UNMEE has received excellent cooperation from both parties, and we are confident that the establishment of the TSZ will proceed smoothly.
"Ethiopia will complete its redeployment to the southern boundary of the TSZ by February 26, and Eritrea will complete the rearrangement of its forces to the northern boundary by March 3," he said.
UNMEE peacekeepers will monitor and verify the establishment of the TSZ to ensure the continuing compliance with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed June 18 in Algiers, Algeria.
Once the verification process is completed, Eritrea will start the restoration of civil administration, including police and local militia in the zone.
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