DATE=5/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ERITREA/ETHIOPIA
NUMBER=2-262323
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU (L ONLY)
DATELINE=ASMARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Despite international pressure to call a
truce, the border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia
has flared up in the most intense fighting of the past
year. Carol Pineau reports from Asmara, the Eritrean
capitol.
TEXT: Eritrean officials say fierce battles are
continuing along the Badame front for the second
straight day. They deny Ethiopian claims that their
troops have broken through Eritrean defenses.
At Zalambesa, 250 kilometers to the east, Asmara says
the front is now quiet after intense shelling Friday.
In Asmara the only indication of the war 200
kilometers away was the sound of jets flying overhead
to patrol Eritrean airspace.
The United Nations resolution giving both countries
until Monday to call a halt to their war has angered
Eritrean officials. Eritrea says the U-N Security
council should condemn Ethiopia for starting the
latest offensive and should support Eritrea's right of
self-defense.
The Security Council resolution was passed Friday
after a U-N mission failed earlier in the week to get
both sides into negotiations. If fighting continues,
the resolution indicated economic sanctions could be
brought against the two countries, as well as an arms
embargo.
Diplomats here say the U-N threats are meaningless.
They say an arms embargo would have little effect
since both sides have already spent hundreds of
millions of dollars rearming after last year's
battles.
Economic sanctions, they say, are no threat because
there is little left in either country to harm. As
soon as war broke out two years ago, almost all
development projects were closed down and
international financial institutions and private
investors pulled out. (signed)
NEB/CP/DW/JP
13-May-2000 10:54 AM EDT (13-May-2000 1454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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