Press Release
Ethiopia's Transparent Ploy of Blocking the Peace Process

At the 35th OAU Summit in Algiers last month, Ethiopia's Prime Minister tried in vain to cast doubt on Eritrea's acceptance of the Modalities of Implementation. And, in what he thought would be enticing bait, he promised that Ethiopia's response will be unequivocal. Thus, he pledged: "... We will not engage in such a subterfuge. If we accept the package, Your Excellencies, we will tell you so. No ifs, no buts. If we don't accept the package, Your Excellencies, we will tell you so. But we will not insult your intelligence ... We shall not do that. We respect the OAU too much to do that."

As it happened, Ethiopia's belated acceptance of the Modalities of Implementation was a six page letter full of ifs and buts. What is more, Ethiopia has yesterday refused to accept the Technical Arrangements, requesting "clarifications." These Technical Arrangements are merely technical details of the Framework Agreement and the Modalities of Implementation and they have been carefully worked out by experts from the OAU, the United Nations and the United States Government.

Ethiopia's request for "clarifications" is but a transparent ploy for delaying the peace process. And, it betrays the game that the TPLF regime has been playing in the past. Indeed, the TPLF cannot plausibly raise now, at the eleventh hour, substantial issues in regard to the Technical Arrangements if it had really accepted the underlying agreements in good faith. That this was not the case is illustrated today, beyond any shred of doubt, by its refusal to proceed toward their implementation.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 10 August 1999