Brussels, 28/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The implementation of the peace agreement signed in December 2000 between Eritrea and Ethiopia and the future of the cooperation for develop between the Union and Eritrea have been, on Wednesday in Brussels, at the heart of the meetings between the President of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, the Commissioner President, Romano Prodi and Commissioner Poul Nielson (Development and Humanitarian Aid).
While welcoming the progress already achieved down the road to peace, Mr Prodi underlined the importance given by the EU to the continuation of the efforts to implement the agreement, and reiterated the Union's readiness to support the process, notably through a contribution towards the demobilisation and reintegration of 2,000 soldiers. Mr Prodi added that the Commission was supportive to those who remain engaged in the peace as shown by its aid to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country. Poul Nielson announced, on this issue, that a budget of EUR 96 million had been programmed for Eritrea under the 9th European Development Fund and that the EUR 7 million leftover from the 7th EDF would be spent.
Since 1993, date when Eritrea joined the Lomé Convention, this country received EUR 184 million under the aid to development, mainly for the rehabilitation after the war of independence. More recently, aid has been allocated to an emergency reconstruction programme adopted at the end of the armed conflicts with Ethiopia (financing of projects in the areas of food security, education and health). last year, the Community humanitarian aid office (ECHO) provided EUR 8 million for the war victims, and recently EUR 7 million (aid to displaced persons, the people living in camps, awareness raising against the dangers of exploding antipersonnel mines, nutritional monitoring in the regions affected by the drought). Last January, Eritrea benefited from 15 million in food aid.