In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said the Eritrean government should stop its efforts of spinning the report and should focus on the crux of the matter:" this is the absolute necessity for Eritrea's full compliance with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

This must include complete restoration of the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone and the lifting of all the restrictions on UNMEE, which are the key obligations under the Algiers Agreements, it said.

No amount of spin by Eritrea can disguise this, the Ministry said, and added that demarcation cannot take place until Eritrea's full compliance with these Agreements is restored.

The Ministry also recalled that Ethiopia, on September 22, 2007 issued a notification to Eritrea, but no response had been made by the latter so far.

“Unless Eritrea does respond positively to this, and as soon as possible, Ethiopia will have to look seriously as the other legal options available to it,” the Ministry added.

The Ministry also said that President of the EEBC noted Ethiopia's full commitment to the demarcation process at the March 2006 meeting of the parties and the Commission.

“There is no doubt that Ethiopia is willing to move on to the complete demarcation of the boundary and all we are trying to do now is figure out how to go about that," the Ministry quoted the President as having said.

This remains Ethiopian's position as its representative underlined last month at the meeting of the parties with the Commission at The Hague, it added.

R-8:13-8:47

E-8:47-8:55

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