DATE=5/26/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43507
TITLE=U-S / ETHIOPIA-ERITREA
BYLINE=COLIN LOVETT
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 5/25
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT REMAINS STRONGLY COMMITTED TO
FINDING A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT TO THE WAR BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND
ERITREA. AT A CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING (5/25) ON THE CURRENT
SITUATION, MEMBERS BLAMED BOTH OF THE WARRING GOVERNMENTS FOR THE
CONTINUING CONFLICT. V-O-A'S COLIN LOVETT HAS THIS BACKGROUND
REPORT.
TEXT: ONE YEAR INTO THE WAR, BOTH SIDES HAVE LOST TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE HAVE BEEN
FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES.
CALLING THE HOSTILITIES SENSELESS AND TRAGIC, MEMBERS OF THE U-S
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA ARE URGING BOTH ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA
TO END ALL HOSTILITIES IMMEDIATELY.
IN HER TESTIMONY TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE, U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
STATE FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS, SUSAN RICE, SAID THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN URGING ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA TO IMPLEMENT
AN ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY PEACE PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR
TROOP WITHDRAWALS AND ARBITRATION TO END THE DISPUTE.
/// RICE ACT ///
BOTH COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT THEY ACCEPT
THIS AGREEMENT. THERE DOES SEEM TO BE SOME DIFFERENCE
OF INTERPRETATION [OVER THE QUESTION OF BADAME TOWN AND
ITS ENVIRONS]. NEVERTHELESS, WE IN THE U-S GOVERNMENT
THINK THE PRINCIPLES OF THE O-A-U FRAMEWORK REMAIN SOUND
AND REMAIN VALID, AND CAN FORM A BASIS FOR A PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT OF THIS CONFLICT.
/// END ACT ///
SHE ADDED THAT IN ADDITION TO HELPING THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA AND
ERITREA, THE UNITED STATES WANTS THE CONFLICT TO END SOON BECAUSE
IT IS THREATENING REGIONAL STABILITY.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BEN GILMAN NOTED THAT
THE CONFLICT ON THE HORN OF AFRICA IS THE LARGEST AND ONE OF THE
MOST SENSELESS IN THE WORLD TODAY.
/// GILMAN ACT ///
OF ALL THE CONFLICTS IN AFRICA AND AROUND THE WORLD,
THIS WAR BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA IS ONE OF THE MOST
TRAGIC. IT'S TRAGIC -- NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE HUGE
NUMBERS INVOLVED. ALTHOUGH ANY CONFLICT IN WHICH A
SINGLE BATTLE CONSUMES 10-THOUSAND PRECIOUS,
IRREPLACEABLE LIVES IS CERTAINLY A TRAGEDY. IT'S TRAGIC
ALSO BECAUSE OF THE ASPECT OF TWO OF AFRICA'S SHINING
LIGHTS, TWO BROTHERS, STRANGLING EACH OTHER AT THE VERY
TIME THEY SHOULD BE BUILDING THEIR WEALTH, LIBERTY AND
PROSPERITY.
/// END ACT ///
ASSISTANT SECRETARY RICE SAYS A RESOLUTION OF THE BORDER WAR MAY
BE ATTAINABLE. BUT THE TASK OF REBUILDING BOTH COUNTRIES AND
ENSURING A LONG-TERM, SUSTAINED PEACE WILL BE ESPECIALLY
DIFFICULT. (SIGNED)
NEB/CBL/WTW
26-May-99 1:16 PM EDT (1716 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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