DATE=5/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (L)
NUMBER=2-262107
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=ADDIS ABABA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A delegation from the United Nations Security
Council is in Ethiopia, trying to end that country's
border war with Eritrea. V-O-A Scott Stearns in Addis
Ababa reports the latest peace talks broke down week.
TEXT: U-N ambassadors met late Monday with Ethiopian
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. They will spend the
night in Addis Ababa, then leave Tuesday for Eritrea
where they are scheduled to meet with President Isayas
Affeworki.
The delegation is led by U-S Ambassador Richard
Holbrooke. It is calling on both nations to refrain
from further fighting in their border war. A Security
Council statement urges both countries to commit -- in
its words -- immediately, seriously, and without
preconditions to a peace plan drawn up by the
Organization of African Unity.
But there has been no progress toward implementing the
plan and talks last week in Algeria broke down with
Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of having "killed off" the
negotiations. According to a Ethiopian government
statement -- Eritrea is "determined to prevent the
start of talks on substantive matters."
Eritrea says Ethiopia has rejected a cease-fire, and
it says Ethiopia's refusal to sign a framework
agreement is a fundamental breech of the O-A-U peace
plan.
The two nations remain divided over many of the same
issues that have split these former allies for more
than two years. Chief among their differences is who
gives up what land and when.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of invading its territory and
wants local Ethiopian administration restored in
disputed areas before talk of a cease-fire and a
withdrawal of troops. Eritrea says the land in
question is rightfully Eritrean, so there can be no
question of restoring local authority until the
question of ownership is decided by an international
border commission.
That commission is provided for under the O-A-U plan,
along with the deployment of neutral foreign observers
to monitor disputed border areas during a simultaneous
withdrawal of troops.
Delegation after delegation of foreign diplomats have
made the trip between Addis Ababa and Asmara, trying
to persuade the two nations to stop their war -- but
without success. Political observers hold out little
hope that this delegation will have any more luck,
although it may be able to delay what appears to
growing momentum toward more fighting.
There has been relative calm in recent weeks, although
hundreds of thousands of troops remain dug in along
the rocky border.
Each nation accuses the other of starting the
fighting. Both have spent millions of dollars on the
war, while many of their citizens are facing food
shortages because of drought. (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/JWH/KBK
08-May-2000 14:15 PM EDT (08-May-2000 1815 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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