NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY URGES ETHOIPIA AND ERITREA TO AGREE TO OAU MEDIATION
January 25, 1999 (10:00 a.m. EST) No. 8
AXWORTHY URGES ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA
TO AGREE TO OAU MEDIATION
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today reiterated his full support for the Organization of African Unity (OAU) resolutions and mediation
efforts to end the nine-month Ethiopian-Eritrean border dispute.
"Canada urges both countries to exercise restraint and use all possible resources to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict," said Mr. Axworthy.
"We urge Ethiopia and Eritrea to co-operate fully with the OAU and to accept and implement their mediation proposals without further delay." The
Ethiopian government has announced its formal acceptance of these proposals, while the Eritrean government so far has not accepted them.
Mr. Axworthy expressed concern that the continued troop concentration along the common border could risk an escalation of hostilities. He
pressed both governments to respect the provisions of international humanitarian law, in particular toward prisoners of war, civilian internees and
other foreign nationals affected by the conflict.
The OAU Framework Agreement called for Eritrea's troop withdrawal from the disputed border area to the original boundaries held before May 6,
1998, for the presence of OAU military observers with UN support and for the demarcation of the border under UN auspices.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has upgraded its travel reports and recommends that Canadians defer travel to
Eritrea and non-essential travel to Ethiopia until further notice. Measures have been taken concerning safety and security issues for Canadians
in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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