Eritrea Expels UN Peacekeepers

Eritrea is a country formed by breaking away from Ethiopia. The border between the two countries has been in dispute. They fought a war in 1998 that was interrupted by UN intervention. The UN established a border in 2000 and put in a peacekeeping force because the two could not agree on accepting the UN resolution.

In a letter sent to the U.N. Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, Eritrea said the Americans, Canadians and Europeans have 10 days to leave the Horn of Africa nation, said a Western diplomat who saw a copy of the letter. No reason was given for the expulsion. Two weeks ago the United Nations threatened to impose sanctions if Eritrea fails to ease restrictions imposed on peacekeepers.

Joel Adechi, deputy head of the U.N. mission held emergency talks with Eritrean officials in an effort to resolve the crisis, Khumalo told The Associated Press.

In October, the Eritrean government banned helicopter flights by U.N. peacekeepers in its airspace over the buffer zone that separates thousands of its troops from those from Ethiopia. It then banned U.N. vehicles from patrolling at night on its side of the zone, prompting U.N. troops to vacate 18 of its 40 posts

The U.N. resolution had also urged the two countries to reverse a major military buildup on their border. It also presses Ethiopia to accept a 2000 border agreement, but does not threaten any penalties if the country continues to ignore that appeal.

At this point one has to ask what the UN is good for. They set up a border between two belligerents but don't enforce it. They have a peacekeeping force that backs off when the countries they're supposed to keep from fighting each other tell them to get out of the way.

If the only weapon they want to use to enforce their resolutions is sanctions, then why have a peacekeeping force? This kind of impotence is one of the reasons for the flap over the upcoming UN budget plan.

With less than three weeks of negotiations left before the 2006-07 budget is to be approved, Mr. Bolton said in an interview that Washington cannot allow the $3.6 billion spending plan to pass unless it reflects the reforms.

"We don't want to be in a position where we approve a biennium budget for two years and then find ourselves clawing from behind trying to make up the reforms," Mr. Bolton said in his spacious but sparsely furnished office at the U.S. Mission.

"The way you focus you people's attention is by combining the reform work with the budget," he said.

The reforms sought by Mr. Bolton include the creation of an ethics office, increased oversight of U.N. activities and approval of new offices for human rights and peace building.

Other changes would establish a policy to protect whistleblowers, make the auditing office more independent and streamline old mandates that have outlived their usefulness.

Money is the only thing the UN understands. By impacting their budget maybe the organization can be made relevant. Past performance is not encouraging.

Mmmm Basil's