Almost a week after Eritrea's acceptance of the Modalities for the Implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement, there is still no official statement from the Ethiopian side. In his recent press conference, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister again fudged the issue and declined to state Ethiopia's position. Head of Afro-Asian and Australian Affairs in the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Tesfamariam Tekeste told ERINA, "Ethiopia's transparent tactic of refusing to make known its position is not tenable. The TPLF regime must have the courage to say yes or no to the peace formula." He further noted that "the absence of Ethiopia's clear response indicates its fear of facing the Ethiopian people in particular and the international community in general."

As the Ethiopian government is continuing with its shopping spree for arms, there are fears that over five million Ethiopians could face death due to the worst hunger disaster the country is facing in years. "Pressure must be put on Ethiopia to stop its purchase of arms and concentrate on how to avert this catastrophe from taking place," a diplomat in the Eritrean capital Asmara told ERINA on Monday.