NEWS RELEASES
CANADA WELCOMES SIGNING OF OAU PEACE PROPOSAL BY ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA
June 19, 2000 (7:00 p.m. EDT) No. 155
CANADA WELCOMES SIGNING OF OAU
PEACE PROPOSAL BY ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) David Kilgour
welcomed the signing of an Organization for African Unity (OAU) peace proposal, by Ethiopia and Eritrea on
June 18.
The 15-point consolidated proposal calls for the cessation of hostilities between the two countries, deployment
of a United Nations peacekeeping mission under OAU auspices, redeployment of Ethiopian troops to positions
held prior to May 6, 1998, and the creation of a 25-kilometre temporary security zone on the Eritrean side of the
border.
"We are encouraged that both parties have signed the peace proposal, and applaud the considerable efforts
undertaken by the OAU to achieve this result," said Mr. Axworthy. "The cease-fire will facilitate Canada's efforts
to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians displaced by the conflict and to those suffering from the effects
of the region's three-year drought."
The Minister added that Canada had long called for a cessation of hostilities between both countries, and had
taken action toward that end -- both bilaterally, in discussions with senior officials from Ethiopia and Eritrea, and
multilaterally, through its position on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
"The Government of Canada hopes that recent developments will foster an environment conducive to a lasting
peace between Ethiopian and Eritrea," said Mr. Kilgour. "I met with senior officials from both countries last
month to advocate OAU proposals, and therefore, I find it particularly gratifying to see both parties resolving
their differences peacefully."
In May, Mr. Kilgour met with Ethiopian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu and senior officials from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa to urge officials to accept the OAU peace proposals. He also met
with the Eritrean Trade Minister during a recent visit to Yemen.
Canada also supported UNSC Resolution 1298, adopted on May 17, which imposed a comprehensive arms
embargo on Ethiopia and Eritrea as a way of enforcing the Security Council demand for an immediate cease-fire and the resumption of peace talks.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Tasha Stefanis
Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
(613) 944-2162
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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