Eritrean News Agency (ERINA)(Tel: ++291-1-117627, Fax: 127385)
ERINA Update
Friday, September 25, 1998
1. The ACP-EU [African Caribbean Pacific-European Union] Joint Assembly
has adopted a resolution calling on Ethiopia and Eritrea to cease
hostilities and commit to legal and peaceful means in order to resolve
the current border conflict. The Assembly, which concluded a four day
conference in Brussels yesterday, adopted a resolution regarding Eritrea
and Ethiopia which reads:
-
Urges the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia to abandon the use of
force and to fully commit themselves to peaceful and legal means of
resolving the border dispute; calls for an immediate cessation of
hostilities and the beginning of negotiations with mediators;
-
Believes that it is instrumental that a solution involve independent
and neutral mediation, and, subsequently, the demarcation of borders
under the auspices of the United Nations; urges Eritrea and Ethiopia to
immediately agree to such a process;
-
As called for by the [United Nations] High Commissioner for Human
Rights, urges the Government of Ethiopia to respect international human
rights norms in relation to ethnic Eritreans in Ethiopia.
2. A statement from the Office of the Government Spokesperson in
Ethiopia has alleged that Eritrea has expelled over 24,000 Ethiopians
from Eritrea since the start of the current border conflict. The
statement comes in the face of international recognition that Eritrea
has not expelled or systematically harassed Ethiopians in spite of the
documented deportation of over 21,000 Eritreans from Ethiopia.
3. The Ethiopian government continues to beat the war drum and now, in
an attempt to further push its population into war, has claimed that
Ethiopia's war campaign has the full support of the international
community. In a week where statements calling for peace and the
cessation of all hostilities between Eritrea and Ethiopia have poured in
from the international community, TPLF ideologue and senior Politbureau
member Abaye Tsehaye has gone on Ethiopian Radio announcing Ethiopia's
readiness to launch the war and reassuring Ethiopians that "our aim of
teaching Eritrea an unforgettable lesson will be fully realized." Abaye
Tsehaye further stated that Ethiopia had been assured of international
assistance in post-war reconstruction since the international community
supported Ethiopia's offensive.
Veronica Rentmeesters, Information Officer
Embassy of Eritrea to the US
1708 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC 20009, USA
TEL: 202 588 7587 FAX: 202 319 1304
E-M: veronica@embassyeritrea.org
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