Egypt mediates to settle the dispute between Eriterea, Ethiopia

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa has announced that that an Egyptian mediation is currently being made by President Hosni Mubarak between Eritrea and Ethiopia in order to settle the disputes arising between the two sides.

In statements to reporters on Wednesday in Cairo, the Egyptian FM said that contacts and consultations are currently underway between President Mubarak and Eritrean President Assyas Afworki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Moussa added that Egypt intervenes when it sees that its role will be effective and that the Eritrean and Ethiopian sides agree to start a peace operation within the course of a cease fire and mutual respect for their territorial integrity.

Moussa explained that the efforts of President Mubarak in such mediations are pooled in the course of the African mediation and in accordance with the African summit of Ouagadougou in September, 1998. The plan of the Organization of African Unity, which was approved by both Ethiopia and Eritrea, calls for the restoration of Ethiopian administration of the Badmi district, disarming weapons from the region and deploying peacekeeping forces in the area for three months.