Eritrea-Ethiopia: Joint UN Country Team meeting held in Asmara

Asmara, Tuesday 20 May 2003 -- The 6th Joint meeting of the United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) of Ethiopia and Eritrea and the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was held in Asmara from 18 to 19 May 2003 and attended by 55 participants.
The meeting marked the second occasion in which UN national staff of the two countries, together with international staff, were able to meet and share ideas about humanitarian, legal and human rights issues affecting the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea, particularly those expected to emerge during the forthcoming border demarcation.

In addition, the two UNCTs looked at how demarcation will affect the return and reintegration of a number of people who are now living in and outside camps or with host communities in both countries.

In this context, the meeting reviewed and amended the joint plan of action developed by the two teams in March 2002, in Addis Ababa. The two teams and UNMEE also established a Working Group to follow up the implementation of the amended joint plan of action.

The meeting reviewed the severe drought situation facing both countries and ways to enhance the response of the international community to the humanitarian emergency in both countries, particularly in the non-food sector.

The meeting typified the exemplary close collaboration between the two UNCTs and the Peacekeeping Mission (UNMEE).

The next joint UNCT meeting will be held in Addis Ababa in August 2003.

For further information, please contact:

UN-OCHA Asmara, Eritrea, Tel.: (291-1) 151666, Fax: 291 -1 151999
EUE-Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel.: (251-1) 444248, Mobile (251-9) 216233, Fax (251-1) 511292