NEWS RELEASE

Thursday, April 15th, 1999

PRIME MINISTER MELES REITERATES ETHIOPIA’S POSITION

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, in an interview with Voice of America this week, reiterated Ethiopia’s position regarding the Ethio-Eritrean conflict: Eritrea must formally agree to withdraw from the Ethiopian territories it invaded and currently occupies before a cease-fire can take place.

As soon as the Eritrean government accedes to this requirement, a cease-fire can be implemented, followed by demilitarisation and demarcation of the common border. To date, however, Eritrea has only agreed to a cease-fire without accepting the entire package deal. Until the government in Asmara officially acknowledges that its troops are occupying sovereign Ethiopian territory and agrees to withdraw them, the rest of the package cannot be implemented.

In the interview Prime Minister Meles emphasised, ‘A cease-fire in the context of a package deal has always been part of the package from day one.’ This stance is not new; it has been Ethiopia’s position since the conflict first began.

This reiteration of Ethiopia’s position marks a period of nearly one year in which Ethiopia has been continually and consistently calling for the invading Eritrean forces to withdraw from its sovereign territory.