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DATE=5/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ERITREA/PEACE TALKS (L)
NUMBER=2-262968
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=ASMARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Talks to end the two year border war between 
Ethiopia and Eritrea have opened in Algiers just as 
the Ethiopian government announced a major pullback of 
its forces. From Asmara, correspondent Nick Simeone 
reports the Eritrean government is calling this a 
positive first sign.  
TEXT:  The Eritrean government as well as neutral 
observers on the Ethiopian side both confirm Ethiopian 
forces are withdrawing from some areas.  It's one of 
the few times the combatants in this border war are in 
agreement over events on the battlefield.   But that's 
about where agreement ends -- both sides have their 
own interpretations about the circumstances of the 
Ethiopian withdrawal.  Eritrean government spokesman 
Yemane Ghebremeskel.
            /// GHEBREMESKEL ACT ///
      It's positive in the sense that I think reality 
      has dawned on them now.   They had this dream of 
      invading Eritrea, they had this dream of 
      changing the government in Eritrea.  Now they 
      know that this is not possible.  I think they 
      are swallowing a hard pill now.
            /// END ACT ///   
Ethiopia - whose troops pushed into territory deep 
within Eritrea's western front - says its goal was 
only to retake land Eritrea occupied two years ago and 
that its military goals have now been met.   Eritrea 
argues it had already given back all disputed land and 
that the only reason it kept fighting was to repel an 
invasion.
            /// SECOND GHEBREMESKEL ACT ///
      I think they are withdrawing because they cannot 
      sustain the losses.  
            /// END ACT ///
Eritrea will not reveal casualty figures for its 
military but it's widely believed both countries have 
sent tens of thousands of soldiers to their deaths in 
fighting since this border war broke out two years 
ago. Both sides are now meeting in Algiers, trying to 
remove final obstacles to a peace plan drafted by the 
Organization for African Unity.  But even if they do 
succeed in resolving their border dispute through 
negotiation, Eritrea says Ethiopia can not be allowed 
to get away with an invasion and will, at some point, 
have to face the consequences.    (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/KBK  
30-May-2000 12:17 PM EDT (30-May-2000 1617 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.