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09 March 2000

Text: U.S. Calls on Ethiopia and Eritrea to Keep Working for Peace

(Also notes return to U.S. of envoy Anthony Lake) (390)
The United States calls upon the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia
to remain "fully engaged" in the Organization of African Unity peace
process, and extends its "unqualified support" to the continuing
efforts of the OAU and the personal representative of the Algerian
president, Mr. Ahmed Ouayahia, the U.S. Department of State announced
March 8.
In a statement released to the press, James Rubin, State Department
spokesman, also noted the return to the United States of the special
envoy of the president and the secretary of state, Anthony Lake, from
a two-week mission to the region in support of mediation efforts.
Following is the text of Rubin's statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 8, 2000
STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN
SPECIAL ENVOY ANTHONY LAKE'S RETURN FROM ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA
In our ongoing effort to help bring about the peaceful resolution of
the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, Special Envoy of the
President and the Secretary of State, Anthony Lake, has just returned
from a two-week mission to the region. Mr. Lake's mission was in
support of the mediation efforts led by the OAU and the Personal
Representative of its current chairman, H.E. Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
During this latest round of mediation, the leaders of Eritrea and
Ethiopia reaffirmed their commitment to the Framework Agreement and
Modalities for Implementation endorsed by the OAU Summit at Algiers in
July, 1999. As announced by the OAU, consensus was reached on some of
the provisions of the Technical Arrangements, while others require
additional mediation to secure the mutual acceptance of the full
document by both parties. Both Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi reaffirmed their confidence in
the OAU mediation process, and their commitment to seeking a peaceful
resolution to this conflict.
The United States calls upon the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia
to remain fully engaged in the OAU peace process, and extends its
unqualified support to the continuing efforts of the OAU and the
Personal Representative of the Algerian President, Mr. Ahmed Ouayahia.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)