Fierce confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea
Ethiopia-Eritrea, Politics, 5/18/2000

Ethiopia said today that it has captured the town of Barentu inside Eritrea.

In a statement, Ethiopia said "The Ethiopian army has captured some key strategic sites, including the town of Barentu inside Eritrea. This fact does not imply that Ethiopia has changed its political objectives and is now engaged in annexing Eritrean territory. Ethiopia supported the referendum of 1993 in Eritrea. It was the first country in the world to recognize Eritrean independence after the referendum. It had no designs on sovereign Eritrean territory then; it does not have any such designs now. The capture of those strategic sites inside Eritrea is solely designed to shorten the war and remove the aggressor from sovereign Ethiopian territory that it still occupies and secure the same. The capture of Barentu and others is thus solely a matter of military expediency and has nothing to do with Ethiopia's political objectives."

The Ethiopian government said yesterday "In coordination with the ground forces, the courageous Ethiopian air force continued to play a major role in battles today by bombing strategic military targets in the vicinity of Das and Senafe and between Adi-Keieh and Segeneity. "

Regarding the UN Security Council resolution over a draft bill imposing weapons embargo on both Ethiopia and Eritrea., Ethiopia said today "The expected Security Council Resolution imposing an arms embargo on Ethiopia was adopted by the Council yesterday, 17 May 2000. Though ostensibly aimed also at the aggressor country, Eritrea, the intent and objective of the initiators of the resolution is obviously Ethiopia."

An Ethiopian statement added "The United States and the U.K., who had wanted even a far harsher punishment to be meted out on Ethiopia, did not succeed. As such, Security Council Resolution 1298 is a defeat for the United States and the U.K. and a victory for those on the Security Council who were determined to protect the credibility of the United Nations. Let the whole world know the fact that the Security Council made a mockery of Ethiopia's appeal to the Security Council when Ethiopia became, over two years ago, a victim of aggression. A situation which constituted a crisis because of a clearly committed act of aggression by Eritrea was not seen by the Security Council even as a potential threat, or source thereof, to regional peace and security."

Previous Stories:
  Ethiopia broke into Eritrea's territories   (5/17/2000)
  Ethiopia is advancing against Eritrean forces   (5/16/2000)
  Eritrea readiness to accept peace initiative with Ethiopia   (5/15/2000)

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