ERITREA: PRESIDENT AFEWERKI
6.2 هزار بار بازدید -
9 سال پیش
-
(4 Jun 2000) English/Nat XFA
(4 Jun 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Talks to resolve the two-year border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea are to resume on Sunday, even as reports suggest that heavy fighting continues between the Horn of Africa neighbours.
Eritrea's president on Sunday claimed Ethiopia was continuing its offensive - even though it announced that the military operation had been completed a few days ago.
Isaias Afewerki said that despite the latest fighting, he remained committed to the peace process.
Praying for peace...
Eritrea's disastrous two-year war with Ethiopia and the million-dollar-a-day bill that comes with the battle is threatening the very resourcefulness of the small nation.
The latest fighting began on May 12.
Ethiopia sent its forces into Eritrea, saying its troops would remain there until they had retaken all disputed land along the border and broken the Eritrean army's ability to contest the matter further.
The fighting came to a halt last Wednesday when Addis Adaba announced it considered the war over, as it had met its goal of retaking disputed territory.
However, Eritrea on Saturday claimed that its neighbour had launched an offensive in the vicinity of the strategic Red Sea port of Assab.
Ethiopia denies the attack.
But its prime minister late on Saturday said that although the war was over, the Ethiopian army was justified to take retaliatory measures to repulse any Eritrean assault.
He also said Ethiopia would withdraw from Eritrean territory if an international peacekeeping force were stationed on land now occupied by Ethiopian forces.
Eritrea agreed last week to retreat from all land Ethiopia claimed.
And in an interview on Sunday, its president stressed that despite the latest developments, he remained committed to finding a peaceful solution.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, on the ground I think we are doing what we should do, defend our positions, save and preserve our manpower and frustrate all attempts of aggression on the other side, while at the same time we continue to commit ourselves to the peace process which is under way."
SUPER CAPTION: Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki
Before the latest fighting erupted, the economy of landlocked Ethiopia relied heavily on Assab port.
When Ethiopia's food crisis fell under the media spotlight earlier this year, Eritrea offered to open up Assab to receive food aid, but Ethiopia refused.
Stressing the strategic importance of Assab, Afewerki criticised the West for accepting Ethiopia's claims that it did not attack the port area.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And now everybody seems to have settled for that. The international community is simply encouraging this aggression by being silent about it."
SUPER CAPTION: Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki
Talks to resolve the two-year border war were to resume in Algeria on Sunday.
Negotiations have been under way for nearly a week, with no major advances.
Sunday's indirect talks were expected to focus on proposals put forth to both sides concerning the withdrawal of both armies and the demarcation of the common borders.
The two countries have a poorly defined border about one-thousand kilometres (620 miles) long.
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XFA
Talks to resolve the two-year border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea are to resume on Sunday, even as reports suggest that heavy fighting continues between the Horn of Africa neighbours.
Eritrea's president on Sunday claimed Ethiopia was continuing its offensive - even though it announced that the military operation had been completed a few days ago.
Isaias Afewerki said that despite the latest fighting, he remained committed to the peace process.
Praying for peace...
Eritrea's disastrous two-year war with Ethiopia and the million-dollar-a-day bill that comes with the battle is threatening the very resourcefulness of the small nation.
The latest fighting began on May 12.
Ethiopia sent its forces into Eritrea, saying its troops would remain there until they had retaken all disputed land along the border and broken the Eritrean army's ability to contest the matter further.
The fighting came to a halt last Wednesday when Addis Adaba announced it considered the war over, as it had met its goal of retaking disputed territory.
However, Eritrea on Saturday claimed that its neighbour had launched an offensive in the vicinity of the strategic Red Sea port of Assab.
Ethiopia denies the attack.
But its prime minister late on Saturday said that although the war was over, the Ethiopian army was justified to take retaliatory measures to repulse any Eritrean assault.
He also said Ethiopia would withdraw from Eritrean territory if an international peacekeeping force were stationed on land now occupied by Ethiopian forces.
Eritrea agreed last week to retreat from all land Ethiopia claimed.
And in an interview on Sunday, its president stressed that despite the latest developments, he remained committed to finding a peaceful solution.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, on the ground I think we are doing what we should do, defend our positions, save and preserve our manpower and frustrate all attempts of aggression on the other side, while at the same time we continue to commit ourselves to the peace process which is under way."
SUPER CAPTION: Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki
Before the latest fighting erupted, the economy of landlocked Ethiopia relied heavily on Assab port.
When Ethiopia's food crisis fell under the media spotlight earlier this year, Eritrea offered to open up Assab to receive food aid, but Ethiopia refused.
Stressing the strategic importance of Assab, Afewerki criticised the West for accepting Ethiopia's claims that it did not attack the port area.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And now everybody seems to have settled for that. The international community is simply encouraging this aggression by being silent about it."
SUPER CAPTION: Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki
Talks to resolve the two-year border war were to resume in Algeria on Sunday.
Negotiations have been under way for nearly a week, with no major advances.
Sunday's indirect talks were expected to focus on proposals put forth to both sides concerning the withdrawal of both armies and the demarcation of the common borders.
The two countries have a poorly defined border about one-thousand kilometres (620 miles) long.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: Twitter: AP_Archive
Facebook: Facebook: APArchives
Instagram: Instagram: APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
9 سال پیش
در تاریخ 1394/04/30 منتشر شده
است.
6,247
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