NEWS RELEASE

Thursday, March 11, 1999

ETHIOPIA WAS, IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE LOYAL TO THE OAU FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

Ethiopia’s acceptance of the OAU Framework Agreement was and continues to be a matter of principle and ‘because Ethiopia’s commitment to peace made it an imperative necessity’, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa yesterday.

A fundamental principle of the OAU Framework Agreement is that aggression should not be rewarded and thus on 12 November, 1998, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi reiterated the clarification given to him at the Ouagadougou summit ‘that with regard to Article 3, the Eritrean forces are to withdraw from all Ethiopian border territories that they have occupied since May 6, 1998.’

However, it is now clear that Eritrea’s acceptance of the Framework Agreement after their defeat in Badme was tactical and insincere, because they are still in occupation of other areas of Ethiopia. They have not informed their citizens of their acceptance; in fact the Eritrean people have only been told officially of a voluntary tactical withdrawal in preparation for another offensive.

There is now no doubt that Eritrea’s acceptance of the OAU plan was to gain respite for further military preparation. There is a renewed recruitment drive and in the still occupied Ethiopian territories Eritrean positions are being fortified.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also added that ‘the yardstick for Eritrean’s genuine commitment to peace is its immediate and unconditional withdrawal from the remaining Ethiopian territories and the return of the status quo ante in full, in line with the letter and spirit of the OAU Framework Agreement.’