I am deeply concerned by the heavy fighting along the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Since the dispute began in May 1998, my Administration has sought to work with these two friends of the United States to achieve a peaceful resolution. Susan Rice, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, has conducted intensive shuttle diplomacy between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and former National Security Adviser Anthony Lake has made four trips to the region at my request.

We remain committed to this crucial effort. A peaceful solution can and must be found without delay. I urge both parties to halt the fighting immediately. If the conflict continues, its human and economic cost will be incalculable for the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea and for the entire region.

I am disappointed that hostilities resumed while sustained diplomatic efforts by the international community were continuing. We welcome Ethiopia's standing acceptance of the Organization of African Unity's Framework Agreement, and maintain our support for the efforts of the OAU and others to promote a peaceful resolution of this conflict.

The return to hostilities cannot bring about a lasting solution to this dispute. I am particularly alarmed by the recent use of air power, which escalates the conflict and violates the agreed airstrike moratorium. I urge the Ethiopian government to refrain from further use of its aircraft as currently employed along the border, and I ask both sides to renew their commitment to the moratorium.

At present, we have no independent evidence to confirm that such a strike took place. We are seeking additional information.

The Eritrean government has reiterated that they will not initiate hostilities and affirmed their commitment to the air strike moratorium. The Ethiopian Government has repeatedly assured us of their continuing commitment to the air strike moratorium. We welcome these assurances from both governments.

The U.S. urges both sides to exercise the utmost restraint and take no action that could increase tensions or provoke widespread hostilities. We continue to believe that the parties can and must resolve this dispute through peaceful means as outlined in the OAU Framework Agreement.

The humanitarian and human rights consequences of this dispute will grow if it escalates into full-scale fighting. That is why we continue to do our utmost to help both parties find a peaceful resolution to the dispute and are calling on both parties to exercise restraint today.