Press Release
Ethiopia Has Yet to Say Yes to OAU Peace Plan

The Ethiopian regime continues to refuse to publicly state whether it has accepted or rejected the Modalities of Implementation endorsed by the OAU Summit in Algiers on Wednesday, 14 July 1999.

At the Summit, Ethiopia's Prime Minister evaded stating Ethiopia's position on the Modalities. Instead he astounded his audience by indulging in his usual dose of invective against Eritrea. The Prime Minister continued to give mixed signals on arrival in Addis Abeba, telling journalists that his government "will seek clarifications" and arguing that certain aspects of the proposal "will have to be examined by relevant government institutions." The long statement issued by Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry yesterday simply rehashes the Prime Minister's evasion.

Ethiopia thus has yet to accept the OAU Modalities, without mincing its words, and make this clear to its own public, the OAU and the international community at large.

In contrast, Eritrea has confirmed its acceptance of the Modalities of Implementation to the Summit and deposited its formal letter of acceptance through a letter of President Isaias Afwerki to the Current Chairman of the OAU.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 16 July 1999