Last week, after much talk of substantial progress of the OAU peace plan, which both warring countries claimed to have accepted, the regime in Addis Ababa blatantly rejected the most feasible Technical Arrangement ever worked out by the OAU, UN and USA. The Technical Agreement, arranged in compliance with the previously prepared Formal Agreement and Modalities, was arranged in a detailed and practical manner with all the parties who will be involved. And the apparent setback on the part of TPLF/Ethiopia represents the kind of brinkmanship typical of what they are -- warmongers. It is up to the OAU, UN and, above all, the USA to stand firm against TPLF as they have done previously with those who have challenged the international rules and norms in such occasions.

Unlike what the TPLF regime would like us to believe, the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict is not about economy nor is it about its beloved President, jealousy, superiority, or territorial ambition for that matter. Although the Ethiopia's ethnic friction, insurgencies, kidnappings, murder and extortion, deep poverty and vast economic inequalities, human rights violations, weakening institutions, rampant corruption and decaying values, public disenchantment and despair may have contributed to the conflict, this is in fact a conflict that challenges the very sovereignty of the Independent State of Eritrea. TPLF/Ethiopia's ambition to get a sea outlet and to replace the current Eritrean government with one that responds to its calls is the core of the conflict.

On May 6, 1998, when the conflict broke out, the regime in Addis Ababa declared war, which led to the deaths of more than 100,000 troops and an unspecified amount of destruction of properties. Furthermore, TPLF/Ethiopia has deported over 60, 000 Eritrean citizens and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin in horrific way which was confirmed and condemned by the UN Commission of Human Rights, Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department and the European Union.

The conflict has already caused the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia huge destruction. The Technical Agreement is not only a sound and practical one but also their only hope. As stated clearly in the clarification given to Ethiopia, the preparation of this Technical Agreements "was conducted by experts from the OAU, in co-operation with experts from the UN and the United States of America." Furthermore, it stated that the Technical Agreement "was intended to provide the practical measures necessary for the Implementation of the Framework Agreement and of the Modalities endorsed by the 35th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, strongly supported by the Parties." By leaving no room for any maneuver and designating the OAU, UN, and US as sole guarantors of the pact, it also adhered that "any interpretation of the OAU Framework Agreement and the Modalities is the sole responsibility of the OAU and its current Chairman" not of the parties.

In all, one of the most significant aspects of the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict is the "complication" of the crisis. Viewpoints on the issue and its socio-political dissension have arisen as a result, which often ignored in the process, have so proliferated that Ethiopians, in particular, not only are facing an increasing chance of death and starvation but also Geo-fragmentation. Without any doubt, there is more at stake for Ethiopians than for Eritreans in this conflict; the very existence of the country is at stake here. Thus, having learned from Somalia, the responsible countries and organisations such as the USA must intervene quickly and prevent the irresponsible regime in Addis Ababa from destroying the country, the people, and the entire horn of Africa.

The international donors should announce that they are cutting off all military aid and sales to Ethiopia. All, including the international banks, should also stop all but humanitarian loans and economic aid. The US, in particular, and the OAU and UN, in general, should give the OAU peace pact a strong endorsement. An international force is clearly the last resort to stop this senseless conflict. It seems that only powerful threat from abroad will persuade the regime in Addis Ababa to stop the madness.