DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251020
TITLE=U-N / ETHIOPIA - ERITREA (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS (WEDNESDAY)
DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE IN FIGHTING
BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX
RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: AFTER RECEIVING A BRIEFING ON THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ERITREA
AND ETHIOPIA, THE SECURITY COUNCIL ISSUED A STATEMENT DEPLORING
THE LATEST VIOLENCE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
BABOUCARR-BLAISE JAGNE OF GABON READ THE STATEMENT ALOUD:
/// JAGNE ACT ///
THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WERE BRIEFED ON THE SERIOUS
POLITICAL AND HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS OF THE CONFLICT
BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA, WHICH RISKS SPREADING INTO
THE WIDER REGION.
/// END ACT ///
THE COUNCIL URGED THE TWO COUNTRIES TO WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATION
OF AFRICAN UNITY IN PURSUING A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT TO THE
CONFLICT. THE TWO SIDES HAVE PLEDGED SUPPORT FOR THE MAIN POINTS
OF AN O-A-U PEACE PLAN, BUT HAVE NOT SIGNED OR BEGUN
IMPLEMENTING ITS TERMS.
THE COUNCIL ALSO DISCUSSED WHAT IT DESCRIBED AS THE SERIOUS
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT HAS DEVELOPED IN BOTH COUNTRIES AS A
RESULT OF THE CONFLICT. MEMBERS SAID IT IS A MATTER OF GREAT
CONCERN THAT ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA CONTINUE TO PURCHASE WEAPONS
WHEN LARGE NUMBERS OF THEIR POPULATIONS ARE FACING FAMINE.
THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA BEGAN MORE THAN A YEAR
AGO. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE REPORTED TO HAVE DIED IN THE
CONFLICT. DIPLOMATS SAY THE CONFLICT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE ONE
OF THE BLOODIEST ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/GM
23-Jun-99 4:57 PM EDT (2057 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
