Eritrea, Ethiopia exchange accusations
Eritrea-Ethiopia, Politics, 3/24/1999

Battles continued on fighting front between Eritrea and Ethiopia on Tuesday and were coincided with accusations exchanged in New York between the two sides in rejecting peace.

AFP quoted diplomats as saying that the chairman of the UN Security Council, the Chinese ambassador Qin Huasun had once again invited the two sides to stop fighting and to abstain immediately from resorting to the use of force after the foreign ministers of the two countries debated before the UN council their different explanations of the peace plan proposed by the Organization of African Unity.

Eritrea's Foreign Minister Haile Weldensae expressed his country's readiness for a cease fire but he warned against any revision for the proposals of the African Unity organization, because such a revision will be conducive to canceling of the whole plan.

For his part, Ethiopian Deputy Foreign Minister Tedika Alemo stipulated an immediate and unconditional withdrawal for the Eritrean forces from all territories it has occupied since the eruption of war on May 6, 1998 and told the UN that ceasing fire without asking for withdrawal has weakened the confidence entrusted by the Ethiopians in the UN. The Organization of African Unity Plan which was drawn up in November calls for Eritrea's withdrawal from Padmi and its surroundings, which Eritrea carried out after its defeat on the western front by the end of last February.

Asmara is persistent on this formula, whereas Addis Ababa finds that the content and spirit of the plan relates to all territories which were placed under Eritrea's control.

Previous Stories:
  Eritrea downs Ethiopian plane   (3/23/1999)
  UN Security Council meets on fighting between Ethiopia, Eritrea   (3/17/1999)
  Fighting continue between Ethiopia, Eritrea   (3/17/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search