Eritrea and Ethiopia: Relations

Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia on stability in the Horn of Africa.

Mr. Jim Murphy
The Government continue to be concerned by the potential for relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia to affect stability in the horn of Africa. Crucially, the dispute over their mutual border remains unresolved.

Tension on the border is rising with more forces being deployed by both sides. We are monitoring the situation closely and urging maximum restraint by both sides and a de-escalation of their military build-up.

We are also urging both sides to agree a way forward which will allow demarcation of the border to proceed to the normalisation of their relations.