DATE=6/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233858
TITLE=ASMARA CALM (L ONLY)
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=ASMARA

INTRO: THE WAR BETWEEN ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA CONTINUES, AND WHILE BOMBINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT THE FRONT, IN ASMARA THE CITY REMAINS CALM. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM THE ERITREAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: LIBERATION AVENUE, THE MAIN SHOPPING STREET OF DOWNTOWN ASMARA. THE WIDE, PALM-LINED AVENUE IS THE PLACE FOR MOVIE HOUSES, TRAVEL AGENTS AND CLOTHING SHOPS.

WITH ITS OUTDOOR CAFES AND PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS IT HAS A DEFINITE EUROPEAN AIR. IN SPITE OF THE WAR WITH ETHIOPIA, PEOPLE STROLLING ALONG THE AVENUE APPEAR TO BE WITHOUT A WORRY AS THEY SHOP, GREET FRIENDS OR JUST ENJOY AN AFTERNOON MEANDERING THROUGH THE TOWN.

IN THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN, MEN GATHER AT THE OUTDOOR CAFES. THEY READ THE GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER OR TALK WITH FRIENDS. SOME OF THEM TALK OF ETHIOPIA AND THE CURRENT CRISIS, BUT THEY ALSO TALK OF LAST NIGHT'S SOCCER MATCHES IN THE WORLD CUP OR TAKE UP WITH FRIENDS.

A TABLE OF YOUNG MEN SIT AROUND HAVING COFFEE. THEY SAY THEY WORRY ABOUT THE WAR, BUT THEY HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DISCUSS TODAY.

THE MOVIE THEATER IS DOING BRISK BUSINESS. MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE BOUGHT TICKERS FOR THE MATINEE SHOWING OF "FREE WILLY," "UNFORGIVEN" AND "THE LAST BOY SCOUT."

FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD IS PATAMATA, THE LOCAL DISCO. ON A WEEKEND NIGHT, PATAMATA IS USUALLY PACKED, BUT WITH FOREIGNERS EVACUATED, THE NOCTURNAL HAUNT FINDS ONLY A FEW DOZEN ERITREAN TEENAGERS DANCING TILL DAWN.

ERITREA FOUGHT A 30-YEAR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE FROM ETHIOPIA AND HAS ONLY HAD PEACE FOR THE SEVEN YEARS. IT IS A COUNTRY THAT WANTS PEACE BUT IS NOT AFRAID OF WAR, AND CERTAINLY AT THE CAFES ON LIBERATION AVENUE, LIFE GOES ON. (SIGNED)

NEB/CP/DW
13-Jun-98 1:09 PM EDT (1709 UTC)
Source: Voice of America

DATE=6/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233841
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA EXPULSION (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=MEKELLE

INTRO: ETHIOPIA SAYS IT IS EXPELLING SOME 500 ERITREANS FOR SECURITY REASONS. AS V-O-A'S SCOTT STEARNS REPORTS, FIGHTING BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES HAS NOW SPREAD 800 KILOMETERS ALONG THEIR BORDER.

TEXT: ETHIOPIA IS EXPELLING MEMBERS OF ERITREA'S RULING PARTY AND FORMER FIGHTERS FROM THE PARTY, ALONG WITH SOME ERITREAN BUSINESSMEN, DIPLOMATS, AND STUDENTS TRAINED IN ERITREA'S MILITARY YOUTH CAMP. ERITREANS IN KEY GOVERNMENT SECTORS INCLUDING AVIATION, DEFENSE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MONTH OFF. ETHIOPIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL BE SCREENED DURING THAT TIME AND, IF THERE IS NO PROBLEM, THEY WILL BE REHIRED.

ETHIOPIA'S QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT THE EXPULSIONS DO NOT AFFECT THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ERITREANS LIVING PEACEFULLY IN ETHIOPIA. STATE TELEVISION SATYS SOME ERITREANS ARE EVEN HELPING ETHIOPIA'S ARMY. SO FAR THERE'S BEEN NO DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN THIS WAR. ETHIOPIA'S SAID THE EXPULSIONS ARE PURELY PRECAUTIONARY.

THOUSANDS OF ETHIOPIANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEPORTED FROM ERITREA, MOST FROM THE SOUTHERN PORT OF ASSAB. (SIGNED)

NEB / TM / WD
13-Jun-98 4:52 AM EDT (0852 UTC)
Source: Voice of America