Date=6/28/98
Type=correspondent report
Number=2-234690
Title=Eritrea /UN react (l-o)
Byline=Carol Pineau
Dateline=Asmara

Intro: Eritrea's president has welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution passed Friday calling for an end to the seven week-old border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In Asmara, Carol Pineau talked with Eritrean president Isayas Afworki about the prospects for peace in the region.

Text: As the seemingly intractable border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia drags on, the leaders of both countries agree on at least one thing: the UN Security Council's Resolution is a positive step.

Eritrean president Isayas Afworki is pleased with the UN's actions.

"For the UN to continue to be concerned about the developments and particularly the escalation, and come with up a resolution urging both parties to abide by a commitment to a cease fire, a cessation of hostilities, exhaust all possibilities for a peaceful solution to the problem and the willingness of the UN to provide the support required for demarcating the boundaries - all that, I think, is very positive in my opinion."

The UN security council threw its support behind an Organization of African Unity, or OAU, delegation. The five member OAU delegation had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate an end to the conflict in a series of meetings with both country's leaders. In spite of this, president Isayas believes it is right that the OAU is involved.

I don't think its a matter of who should take the lead or not, this is not a competition for anyone. We're striving to find a peaceful solution to the problem and we would like to see a process put in place which would guarantee that we are on the right track. Yes, the OAU has its limitations and no one can exaggerate the capabilities of the OAU.

The Eritrean president says they must be pragmatic in their approach to solving the conflict. He has suggested that the OAU act as an umbrella organization for all the mediation efforts.

"We have always talked about a consolidation of efforts. it's not that some have the influence and capability. We would like to see all efforts combined to bring an effect and I think the OAU can be one element. The OAU on its own could not come up with miracles and find a solution to the problem."

President Isayas was particularly pleased that the UN resolution offered the international organization's map expertise for the eventual demarcation of the disputed border. The Eritrean President says the conflict will never be finished until the ill-defined border is clearly delineated.

Ethiopia says it will not accept discussing the conflict, including border demarcation, until Eritrea withdraws its forces to the positions held prior to May 6th when the conflict began.

President Isayas says this is just an attempt on Ethiopia's part to divert attention away from the real issue -- the issue of clearly defining the border between these two previously friendly Horn of Africa neighbors. (signed)

NEB/CP/ENE-T/WFR
28-Jun-98 4:14 PM EDT (2014 UTC)
Source: Voice of America