Press Release

Ethiopian POWs To Be Repatriated

On Tuesday, 15 January 2002, twenty five (25) Ethiopian POWs will be repatriated to their country under the auspices of the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross).

The Government of the State of Eritrea has time and again expressed its readiness to release and repatriate all Ethiopian POWs in accordance with the Algiers Peace Agreement and the Third Geneva Convention of 1949. However, the Ethiopian Government continues to hinder the process.

It is also to be noted that more than 400 civilian Eritreans are still interned in various camps in Ethiopia. Most of these people have been in detention since the outbreak of the conflict in May 1998.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 11 January 2002