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January 22, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

                              THE WHITE HOUSE
                       Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 22, 1999
                        STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
     The United States remains deeply concerned about the risk of armed
conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia and strongly committed to help find a
peaceful resolution to their border dispute.
     As part of this effort, I asked former National Security Advisor
Anthony Lake to return to Eritrea and Ethiopia during the last week.  This
was his fourth visit since October.  During his visit, Mr. Lake met with
Organization of African Unity (OAU) Secretary Salim Ahmed Salim, Eritrean
President Isaias Afwerki, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
     In their meetings with Mr. Lake, the leaders of Eritrea and Ethiopia
reaffirmed their engagement with the OAU?s peace process, which the United
States strongly supports.  In this context, the United States urges both
parties to accept the OAU?s Framework Agreement and its agreed
implementation in order to achieve a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
Ethiopia has accepted the OAU Framework, and Eritrea awaits certain
clarifications from the OAU.
     The United States remains deeply concerned, however, about the
continuing military build-up along the common border between Ethiopia and
Eritrea, and about the implications of this build-up for renewed
hostilities.  We call on both parties to exercise reason and restraint and
to maintain their commitment to the peaceful solution that we are convinced
is within reach.
     Ethiopia and Eritrea have made remarkable strides in the last few
years in overcoming a past of repression, famine and war.  Both nations
have promising futures.  Both are good friends of the United States.  We
ask them not to risk what they have gained in a conflict that cannot
possibly benefit the people of either side.  We pledge our own best
efforts, in partnership with Ethiopia and Eritrea, to avert a tragedy and
to advance the interests that continue to unite the people of both nations.
                                 30-30-30