Ethiopia wants return to pre-fighting situation with Eritrea

Ethiopia insisted on a return to the situation that existed before fighting began with Eritrea in 1998 as a necessity for peace.

"Ethiopia's objective is, and always has been, the complete reversal of Eritrea's aggression. Anything less sends the message that borders can be changed by force and international law (particularly the inviolability of a country's sovereign territory) does not have to be respected," the office of the Ethiopian government's spokesperson said yesterday in a statement.

It added, "Being the victim of aggression, Ethiopia deserves a guarantee, by means of advance verification, of which areas will be covered by redeployment before any other steps in the peace process--including a cessation of hostilities-- can be taken."

It said Eritrea is continuing with its "aggressions," including "attacking Ethiopian positions at the Zalambessa front in early September; launching a new round of military conscription and drafting the elderly and children; arming and supporting extremist rebel groups that operate out of Somalia and perpetrate terrorism in Ethiopia; Dismantling towns and villages that its troops have occupied in an attempt to transform the Ethiopian identity of these areas; and abducting, imprisoning, torturing and abusing Ethiopian citizens residing in Eritrea."