DATE=6/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233823
TITLE=ERITREA TRANSPORT (L-O)
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=ASMARA

INTRO: BORDER SKIRMISHES BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA CONTINUE TO RAGE ON, BUT ALONG THE RED SEA COAST OF ERITREA, AN ECONOMIC BATTLE IS BEING FOUGHT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM ASMARA.

TEXT: ON MAY 6TH, THE ETHIOPIAN PARLIAMENT DENOUNCED ERITREA FOR BORDER INFRACTIONS. WITHIN DAYS, THE GOVERNMENT OF LANDLOCKED ETHIOPIA ORDERED ALL SHIPS HEADED TOWARD THE ERITREAN PORT OF ASSAB TO BE DIVERTED TOWARD DJIBOUTI, AND ETHIOPIAN AIRWAYS, THE MAIN AIRLINE FOR ASMARA, CANCELLED ALL FLIGHTS TO ERITREA.

THE ERITREAN NEWS AGENCY SAYS ETHIOPIA HAS WARNED INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL AIRLINES AND VESSELS CALLING ON THE ERITREAN PORTS THAT IT PLANS TO CARRY OUT AIRSTRIKES. IN RESPONSE, ERITREA HAS CALLED ON THE INTERNATIONAL AVIATION AND MARITIME AUTHORITIES TO CONDEMN ETHIOPIA.

BUT IN THE ERITREAN CAPITAL, MOHAMMED ALI SHERIF, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE ERITREAN SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT AGENCY SERVICES, SAYS, OTHER THAN CANCELLATION OF ETHIOPIAN SHIPS, BUSINESS IS NORMAL.

/// MOHAMMED ALI SHERIF ACT ///
WELL, AS FAR AS SHIPPING ACTIVITIES ARE CONCERNED, MESEWA PORT IS STILL WORKING CONTINUOUSLY, PEACEFULLY, WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTION, EXCEPT THE FEAR WE HEAR FROM SOME PRINCIPALS -- THE DECLARATION OF ETHIOPIAN WAR IN THE RED SEA, THE FEAR OF THAT MAKES THEM CONSULT US AND WE TELL THEM NOT TO WORRY, THAT THEY CAN TRADE AS USUAL, AS NORMAL. EVEN TODAY, IF YOU GO TO MESEWA, WE HAVE MANY SHIPS IN OPERATION, NO OBSTACLES, NO PROBLEM.
/// END ACT ///

ON THURSDAY, THERE WAS FIGHTING 75 KILOMETERS FROM THE ASSAB PORT. THE PORT IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE KEY STRATEGIC POINTS IN ERITREA. MR. SHERIF SAYS HE IS ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT ERITREA CAN PROTECT ITS PORT.

/// MOHAMMED ALI SHERIF ACT ///
DEFINITELY, WITHOUT HESITATION, DEFINITELY THE ERITREAN GOVERNMENT CAN PROTECT THE PORT, BOTH PORTS AND THE WHOLE OF ERITREA AS WELL.
/// END ACT ///

AIR TRANSPORT HAS BEEN HEAVILY AFFECTED. OTHER THAN A FEW EVACUATION FLIGHTS, THE ASMARA AIRPORT HAS BEEN SILENT ALL WEEK. LAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, THE AIRPORT WAS HIT IN ETHIOPIAN BOMBING RAIDS.

FOR RONEN ILAN, FOUNDER OF COMMERCIAL AND EXPORT SERVICES, AN EXPORT COMPANY DEALING IN PRODUCE AND CUT FLOWERS, THE CANCELLATION OF FLIGHTS HAS PUT HIM, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY, OUT OF BUSINESS.

/// ILAN ACT ///
NOW THERE ARE NO FLIGHTS. ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES HAS STOPPED AND OTHER AIRLINES ARE NOT FLYING IN OUR DIRECTION. THERE ARE NO FLIGHTS. WE HAVE EVERY DAY 50-THOUSAND FLOWERS. THIS MEANS MOVING TWO TONS OF FLOWERS, AND THE PRODUCE WE ARE SELLING TO THE LOCAL MARKETS SO EVERYBODY IS HAPPY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE APPLES. THE LOSS IS BETWEEN FIVE TO 12 THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY BECAUSE THE PRICE IS GOING UP AND DOWN BY THE SEASONS OF EUROPE.
/// END ACT ///

AS CUT FLOWERS AND PRODUCE ROT IN MR. ILAN'S WAREHOUSE, HE WAITS AND HOPES FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT. HE SAYS HAS ALREADY LOST MAJOR CONTRACTS. AND HE HAS HAD TO LAY OFF WORKERS.

/// ILAN ACT ///
ALMOST ALL THE WORKERS HAD TO STOP. (THERE WERE 370 EMPLOYEES BEFORE) BUT NOW WE NOW WE PAY ONLY 60 SALARIES. THE ONLY WORK THAT IS LEFT IS IRRIGATING AND MAINTAINING THE FARMS. WE DON'T NEED THE WORKERS TO CUT FLOWERS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO SHIP THE FLOWERS, SO WE DON'T NEED THE PEOPLE WHO PACK AND TRANSPORT THE FLOWERS. SO WE HAD TO STOP (LAY OFF) THE PEOPLE.
/// END ACT ///

MEANWHILE IN THE MARKET, SUPPLIES ARE AMPLE AND THERE IS LITTLE OR NO PANIC-BUYING. (SIGNED)

NEB/CP/KL/RRM
12-Jun-98 4:10 PM EDT (2010 UTC)
Source: Voice of America