DATE=5/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ERITREA / ETHIOPIA FIGHTING (L)
NUMBER=2-262298
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=ASMARA, ERITREA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Heavy fighting has spread along the Ethiopian
- Eritrean Border. The latest outbreak of hostilities
in the horn of Africa, erupted just days after a U-N
Security Council delegation failed to bring the two
sides back to the negotiating table. Carol Pineau
reports from Eritrean capital of Asmara.
TEXT: Ethiopian troops attacked soon after midnight
along the left and right flanks of the highly
contested Badame front. By morning the battle had
spread, with intense shelling in Zalembessa, 250
kilometers to the East.
The Eritrean army says that in Badame, it remains in
defensive positions, fighting from trenches high up in
the hills. On the plains below, there is heavy
Ethiopian troop movement.
In Zalembessa, no troop movements have been reported,
but analysts say shelling is often a prelude to
sending in troops.
The fighting comes on the heals of yet another failed
diplomatic mission to end the two year old border war,
this one by a special U-N Security Council delegation
headed by U-S ambassador to the United Nations Richard
Holbrooke.
Top Eritrean political advisor Yemane Gebreab says Mr.
Holbrooke knew of Ethiopia's plans to launch an
attack.
/// YEMANE ACT ///
Holbrooke and his team were told very openly by
the Ethiopian Prime Minister that Ethiopia was
going to go to war. They came here, they told
us that Ethiopia was going to war and that it
was going to be soon. So no one had any doubts
in their mind that Ethiopia was going to war.
/// END ACT ///
The Eritrean political advisor, who represented
Eritrea during recent talks in Algiers and was present
during meetings with the U-N delegation, says the U-N
and the international community had a responsibility
to try to stop Ethiopia from launching a new
offensive.
/// SECOND YEMANE ACT ///
The international community's failure to openly,
clearly, strongly, condemn Ethiopia's repeated
declarations to go to war has made its
contribution [Eds.: helped lead to] to the
resumption of hostilities.
/// END ACT ///
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said several
times over state radio that Ethiopia would protect
what it views as its sovereign territory, through
military means if necessary.
After proximity talks in Algiers broke down last
Friday, the Ethiopian Prime Minister said his country
wanted the war to end quickly so the impoverished
nation could get back to development.
While the Prime Minister did not rule out a peaceful
settlement, he told reporters that those who suggest a
peaceful option to ending the conflict, should show
Ethiopia how it is going to remove Eritrea from what
Ethiopia views as its territory. (SIGNED)
NEB/CP/KBK
12-May-2000 16:06 PM EDT (12-May-2000 2006 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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