Addis Ababa — The recent Eritrean accusation on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) is interrupting the Ethio-Eritrean peace process than ever before, diplomats said on Tuesday.

Some diplomats and UN agencies in Addis Ababa told The Daily Monitor anonymously that the four year old UN Mission in the area is faced with "unexpected dispute" with Eritrea.

"The ongoing accusation on UNMEE is a sign of frustration by the government of Eritrea. The accusation has its own disadvantage over the peace process between the two countries," they said.

According to them, currently the relationship between Eritrea and UNMEE is becoming a major concern for everyone.

"These disputes are a serious issue, which need immediate measures by the concerned bodies. We know that the UN is discussing the matter but it needs urgent action to cool down the current accusation made by Brigadier General Abrahaley Kifle, Commissioner for Coordination with the peacekeeping mission in Eritrea.

Travelling by night "without the knowledge of pertinent authorities," exposing to "grave danger" the security and stability of the region, making pornography and dishonouring the national currency by using it as "toilet paper" are the accusation made by the Eritrean government.

UNMEE on its part accepted some of the accusation, and is seeking ways to talk about the matter with Eritrea.

In a related development, the 24th meeting of the Military Coordination Commission (MCC) between Ethiopia and Eritrea was held on Monday in Nairobi, Kenya in the presence of the two countries' military representatives - UNMEE officials and AU.

Major-General Robert Gordon, UNMEE Force Commander said on the occasion that the UN- both in New York and in the Mission area had been shocked by the public and deliberate denigration of UNMEE by the Eritrean authorities.

He said that, ultimately, the Mission saw these unjust allegations as an erosion of the parties consent for UNMEE to operate. Gordon also asked both parties to state clearly whether they want the Mission to stay or leave.

He warned that this was a question that would continuously be asked in the future.

Brigadier-General Abrahaley Kifle, Eritrean representative denied the implication that his government's attitude towards UNMEE had changed, and stressed that they had never intended to harm the Mission's work.

He however said that UNMEE's lack of cooperation concerning the registration of the Mission's nationally employed staff was a threat to Eritrean security. It was to be recalled that last week two UNMEE local staffs were detained in Asmara, in connection with the country's obligation of a national security service.

The next MCC meeting is scheduled to take place on 5th July but the venue is not yet confirmed.