UNMEE/PR/10 UNMEE PUBLIC INFORMATION
The new Force Commander of the United
Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has arrived in the Mission
area to take up his new functions.
Major-General Patrick Cammaert of the Netherlands, who was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 1 November, arrived in Asmara, Eritrea, late in the evening on Saturday, 4 November.
Addressing members of the media, senior UNMEE officials and others upon his arrival, the General said that the peacekeeping force would soon be deployed with 200 military observers and 4,000 troops from at least two dozen nationalities.
"All are committed to the task ahead and ready to work with the people and governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to bring about a lasting peace," the General said.
Noting that those military observers already on the ground were reporting good cooperation from both of the parties, General Cammaert said "I am confident that we will quickly build on this firm foundation."
UNMEE's Force Commander will lead the peacekeeping force of up to 4,200, which the United Nations Security Council has charged with monitoring the two parties security agreements, while political negotiations continue in the effort to reach a lasting settlement of the dispute.
Prior to his new appointment, General Cammaert was Commander of the Multinational United Nations Standby Forces High Readiness Brigade (SHIRBRIG) based in Copenhagen, a post he has held since December 1999.
For additional information contact the UNMEE Public Information Offices: Addis Ababa, phone 251-1-443396 (e-mail, walkera@un.org); Asmara, phone: 291-1-151908 (e-mail: kellyb@un.org)
(c) United Nations 2000