Press Release
Eritrea Accepts OAU Proposal on Technical Arrangements

Eritrea has officially accepted the OAU proposal on Technical Arrangements submitted to both parties at the end of this week. It has also "pledged its full cooperation with the OAU and the United Nations in implementing the three agreements--the Framework Agreement, the Modalities, and the Technical Arrangements--as the sole basis for resolving the dispute."

President Isaias Afwerki informed the OAU delegation led by Algeria's special envoy, Ahmed Ouyahya of Eritrea's acceptance in a meeting here yesterday evening. The Eritrean president has also sent Eritrea's official and written acceptance to the Algerian President and current Chairman of the OAU, H.E. Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The Technical Arrangements were worked out by technical experts from Algeria, the OAU, the United Nations and the United States of America. The envisaged next steps are a formal signature of all three documents, a cessation of hostilities, redeployment, the instatement of civilian administrations, and demarcation within specific time frames.

The OAU delegation left Asmara today for Addis Abeba.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 8 August 1999