QUESTION:  Can I ask briefly on Eritrea-Ethiopia?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Yeah. 

QUESTION:  How high-risk is the chance of war between them?  And do you feel like it was a mistake to lift some of those Ethiopia-related sanctions right before violence flared up? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  No, I don’t think those – I don’t – no, I don’t think the sanctions lifting – these were very small sanctions, and they don’t really have anything to do with what’s happening over there.  You have these separatists that were attacking inside of Ethiopia.  You had an Ethiopian response to it.  You see troops surging on both sides of the border as a result of that.  And anytime you see troops on both sides of the border in a place like that, you’re always worried that that can turn into a broader conflict.

So, we don’t have the closest relationship with Eritrea, obviously, over the years, although we’ve had communication with them – more than usual – in the past few months.  Our hope was that by lifting some of these sanctions, we can increase those links because it’s hard to serve the role of mediator and peacemaker unless you can talk to both sides.

Obviously, the Ethiopian side we talk to a lot more, and I spoke to them this week personally, a few days ago, and just reiterated how important it was – like, we understand the challenge you’re facing from these separatists, and obviously no one is supportive of terrorism and the terrorist attacks that came against them – drone attacks against their own capital – but we also think we – it’s a time to sort of be wise and measured in how you respond to that and make sure it doesn’t turn into a broader war which could ultimately pull in other countries.  The last thing the world needs right now is another war.