DATE=5/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=Eritrea Q&A W/ CAROL PINEAU
NUMBER=2-262803
BYLINE=SARAH WILLIAMS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: FOLLOWING Q AND A WAS CONDUCTED BY SARAH
WILLIAMS OF VNN EARLY THURSDAY. ///
Sarah: Could you update us about the situation
involving the war.
Carol: Well, at midnight, last night, Eritrean troops
redeployed from the disputed areas of Zalambessa
Alitena. These are the two fronts where Ethiopia has
been shelling. There has been heavy fighting over the
last couple of days. The O-A-U (Organization of
African Unity) had made an appeal to both countries to
pull back to pre-conflict positions. So, now Eritrea
has moved out of all of the pre-conflict positions and
is now pressuring the O-A-U, saying now you have to go
and ask Ethiopia to do the same.
Sarah: Did Eritrea give reasons for making this
decision?
Carol: Yes. Actually it appears, as though, this was
quite an astute diplomatic move. It's going to be
difficult politically because it looks as though they
are retreating. But, diplomatically this could put
pressure on the O-A-U and the international community.
Eritrea says that the O-A-U and the European union
special envoys, came to them and said, "We think that
this whole idea (from Ethiopia) of Eritrea having to
move out of disputed territories before the war can
end is just a ruse by Ethiopia. That actually they
want to continue the war and take more Eritrean
territory." This is what Eritrea says the O-A-U told
them. They then asked Eritrea to move out of those
disputed areas so that they could prove that it was
just a test. So they could call Ethiopia on its
assertion. So now they (Eritrea) have done it and
it's up to Ethiopia. Now, Ethiopia will either have
to pull out of a huge swath of Eritrean territory or
it will have to face severe criticism by the
international community and the organization of
African unity.
Sarah: There have been conflicting reports in the
past few days. Certainly, there was a fierce battle
going on. Was there any indication which side is
actually winning or can that not be determined.
Carol: That can't be determined right now. Even when
we go up to see a front line, it's a very tiny
section. The front lines are huge. Right now in the
central front where they are fighting, it's a 150
kilometer long front line with several sections. So,
even if we saw one section and said they're winning
there, they might be loosing horribly in another
section.
Sarah: What are the conditions in Asmara like at the
moment? How has it been affected by the war?
Carol: Well, I think the people are saddened, they are
confused, at the same time, they are resolved to
fight, the desire to get Ethiopia out of their
sovereign territory has really hardened. Other than
that, life really does go on. The other day there was
the evacuation of the American Embassy. On one side
of the hotel near the airport there was the
registration for the evacuation. On the other side of
the hotel, there were two weddings going on. So, life
really is going on in the city. This is the country
that had thirty years of war, they learned to live
under a state of war and they are continuing to do
that.
Sarah: OK, well thanks very much Carol for talking to
us today.
NEB/SW/CP/LTD-T/KBK
NEB/WTW/
25-May-2000 10:19 AM EDT (25-May-2000 1419 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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