Written question asked by Harold Best (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 December 2003. It was answered by Chris Mullin (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 December 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. (Holding answer 16 December 2003).

Answer: Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. [144328] Mr. Mullin: There has been only very limited contact between the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea since 1998. We believe that dialogue between the two is essential. We are actively encouraging this, to supplement the final and binding decisions of the Boundary Commission which was established as part of the Algiers Agreement in December 2000.

Secondary information