Eritrea welcomes Yemeni mediation for reconciliation with Ethiopia

Eritrea on Monday welcomed an offer proposed by Yemen to find a peaceful settlement to the crisis between Eritrea and Ethiopia, but Ethiopia refused the Yemeni offer and stressed its adherence to the peace plan drawn up by the Organization of African Unity.

The director of Eritrea's presidential office, Yamani Gabriyamiskil, told AFP that Asmara welcomed all initiative, noting that his country appreciates the Yemeni proposal and is waiting to be officially informed about it.

In Addis Ababa the Ethiopian government refused the Yemeni proposal and this implicit refusal was manifested in its assertion that it is committed to the peace plan offered by the Organization of African Unity.

Spokeswoman for the Ethiopian government Saloumi Tadisi said on Monday that her country appreciates Yemen's efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the crisis between Eritrea and Ethiopia, but it commits itself to the OAU peace plan.

She added that the UN Security Council, the EU and the US as well as other world countries support the plan of the OAU, and, "We call on Yemen to continue its support for this plan," Saloumi said.