NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday, March 16, 1999

MILITARY ENGAGEMENT CONTINUES AT ZALAMBESSA-EGELA FRONT

Eritrean and Ethiopian defence forces continue to be engaged in fighting at the Zalambessa-Egela front. Isaias Afeworki’s troops have been occupying Ethiopian territories in the Zalambessa-Aiga, Bada-Bure and Egela regions for ten months now.

Ethiopian citizens residing in these areas have had to endure over 300 days of Eritrean occupation. Isaias’ troops remain in these territories in contravention of the letter and spirit of the OAU Framework Agreement for peace.

Ethiopians, while willingly defending their sovereign territory, are involved in a war they never wanted – a war imposed on them by Eritrea. Not only did Eritrea invade and occupy Ethiopian territories by force in May and June 1998, thereby violating international law, but it has steadfastly refused to withdraw its military forces. In the face of repeated Eritrean aggression, Ethiopia is defending its sovereignty from foreign invasion, a legitimate right enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and a fundamental principle of international law.