Ethiopia Launches Air Raid to Frustrate Sahnoun Visit

At 11:00 a.m. this morning, two Ethiopian Antonov planes escorted by fighter planes violated Eritrean air space to bomb nomadic grazing areas along the Binbina-Kuluk road in western Eritrea. There were no casualties although a few heads of cattle were slaughtered in the bombing.

The air raid today was deliberately timed to coincide with the visit of UN Special Envoy Ambassador Mohamed Sahnoun to the region. He left for Addis Abeba yesterday after holding talks with President Isaias Afwerki and the Foreign Minister here on Monday.

During the talks in Asmara, the Government of Eritrea reiterated to Ambassador Sahnoun its continued adherence to the OAU Framework Agreement and its readiness to implement all its provisions. Ambassador Sahnoun expressed his satisfaction telling the international press on departure that "the talks went well and, at this stage, I am hopeful."

The aim of Ethiopia's air raid today is therefore transparent. The TPLF regime is anxious that the efforts underway by the UN envoy and the persistent calls from the international community for the implementation of the OAU Framework will create an environment for lasting peace. Indeed, the OAU Chairman, President Compaore, is scheduled to visit the region in the next few days to accelerate the implementation of the agreement. Furthermore, the US State Department has urged both sides, in a press statement on Monday, to agree to "a cease-fire as a first priority" in accordance with the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement that has been consistently endorsed by the UN Security Council.

In light of these developments, it is clear that Ethiopia's recourse to an air strike today has no rationale other than provoking retaliation in an effort to trigger a new round of hostilities so as to torpedo the peace process.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 28 April 1999