The war began in May 1998 when Eritrean troops moved into a barren patch of land long claimed by both countries. Fighting eventually displaced more than 1 million civilians. The warring sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire in June, brokered by Algeria, the Organization of African Unity and Washington. The formal treaty will establish a commission to demarcate the 620-mile border. And more than 4,000 U.N. peacekeepers will we deployed by January. (The first batch arrived last week.) “As far as I’m concerned, the war is over, " Annan said.
Things may not be that simple. Each country is demanding compensation for war damages from the other. And tensions are still so high that each will send its foreign minister to the ceremony–not the head of state.
