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<title>CANADA URGES ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA TO RESOLVE BORDER DISPUTE PEACEFULLY</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 5, 1998 No. 148</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA URGES ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">TO RESOLVE BORDER DISPUTE PEACEFULLY</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today deplored the mounting conflict
between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and urged both sides to exercise restraint, to
accept international mediation and to resolve the issue peacefully. Fighting has
escalated with bombing attacks on June 5 on Mekele in Ethiopia and on Asmara, the
Eritrean capital.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada hopes that there will be a peaceful resolution of the border issue
without further bloodshed," said Mr. Axworthy. He called on both sides to refrain
from further fighting and to </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">co-operate with mediation efforts.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canadian concerns about mounting tensions were earlier conveyed to the Ethiopian
and Eritrean authorities by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade (DFAIT) in Ottawa and through the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, which is accredited to both countries. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"We are concerned for the security of Canadians," said Secretary of State (Latin
America and Africa) David Kilgour. "The Canadian Embassy in Ethiopia and our
Honorary Consul in Eritrea are following the situation closely." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">DFAIT issued a travel advisory today advising Canadians to defer travel to
Eritrea or, if in the country, to depart immediately. There are approximately 125
Canadians in Eritrea registered with the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa and the
Consulate in Asmara. Arrangements have been made to help Canadians leave Eritrea.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy noted that both President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea and Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia have significant leadership roles in subduing
conflict in the region. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Eritrea and Ethiopia are members of a regional mediation committee seeking to
restore peace in Sudan, and Ethiopia has the Organization of African Unity
mandate to mediate the conflict in Somalia. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Following a United Nations-sponsored referendum in 1993, in which 99.8 percent of
the valid votes cast were in favour of separation from Ethiopia, Eritrea became
an independent state. The current fighting between the two countries was
precipitated by a border skirmish on May 6, 1998.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">-30-</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Sara Mohsin</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 992-9404</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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