DATE=7/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA/ERITREA TALKS (L)
NUMBER=2-264024
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Ethiopia and Eritrea have opened a second
round of peace talks, this time in Washington, in an
attempt to turn last month's cease-fire agreement into
a formal peace. Correspondent Nick Simeone has
details from the State Department, where the American-
mediated talks have begun.
TEXT: Foreign ministers from both East African
neighbors signed a cease-fire at peace talks last
month in Algiers. Now, lower level officials are
trying to work out the fine print -- issues such as
compensation for losses during two years of war and,
most importantly, the key to an overall settlement:
defining the countries' disputed border so United
Nations personnel can eventually patrol it.
Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia seven years
ago, but parts of the border have never been clearly
marked. That led to war when Eritrean soldiers
crossed into Ethiopia and seized territory two years
ago, only to be routed in fighting that ended last
month, with tens of thousands of soldiers and
civilians dead and Ethiopia occupying Eritrean
territory. Under an Organization of African Unity
peace plan agreed to last month, Ethiopia would be
required to withdraw its forces after the arrival of
U-N peace keepers.
Most of President Clinton's top Africa specialists are
involved in these talks, including former national
security adviser Anthony Lake, who spent more than a
year trying to end the conflict. But U-S officials
are still not certain whether Ethiopian and Eritrean
officials will even agree at this session to meet face
to face. (Signed)
NEB/NJS/WTW
03-Jul-2000 15:35 PM EDT (03-Jul-2000 1935 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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