U.S. intervenes in dispute between Ethiopia, Eritrea

May 19, 1998
Web posted at: 10:35 p.m. EDT (0235 GMT)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (CNN) -- Responding to U.S. appeals for restraint in its border conflict with Eritrea, Ethiopia's foreign minister said Tuesday the East African nation will not "be rushed to war."

But Ethiopia again rejected Eritrea's demands for talks, saying as before that its neighbor to the north must first withdraw its troops.

"Ethiopia has made it clear that negotiation on this latest development between Eritrea and Ethiopia and on the surrounding events and issues can take place only following the unconditional withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Ethiopian territory," said Seyoum Mesfin, the Ethiopian foreign minister. "You don't invade sovereign states and then invite them to talk."

Eritrea, which borders the Red Sea and Sudan, achieved independence in 1993 after a 30-year secessionist war against Ethiopia.

Mesfin acknowledged that "the borders between Ethiopia and Eritrea were not totally delimited and drawn" after Italian colonization. But he noted that the two countries had set up a joint commission to resolve the dispute, and that the panel had met in Addis Ababa on May 9.

The latest conflict between the two countries was sparked when Eritrea sent troops earlier this month into Tigray, a region Ethiopia considers part of its northwest territory.

Ethiopia has charged that on May 12, Eritrea sent three bridges of troops supported by tanks into the territory, overrunning areas around Badme and Shiraro. Five people were reported killed.

The Eritreans, who also claim Tigray as their own and accuse Ethiopia of frequent incursions into the territory over the last year, proposed a five-point framework for negotiating a settlement.

Ethiopian officials said Tuesday the border dispute could develop into a full-scale conflict and urged the international community to pressure Eritrea into leaving the territory.

The United States, concerned about repercussions for the region, is trying to broker a settlement between the nations.

Susan Rice, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, has been in the region since Saturday conferring with the leaders of both countries. She has made no public statements.

"She continues to consult with both sides. But she's not in a negotiating mode," State Department spokesman James Rubin said Tuesday.

U.S. officials said they understood that mediation efforts had been "pretty tough going," with the leaders of both countries firmly entrenched in their positions.

Rice is likely to return to Washington "in a couple of days," one official said.

The United States has been a strong backer of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, viewing him as a source of stability in the Horn of Africa.

Washington has granted "nonlethal" aid to both Ethiopia and Eritrea to help them counteract what U.S. officials say is the excessive regional influence of the Islamic government of Sudan. Washington has accused Sudan of terrorism.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• 1 million people face famine in Sudan, Ethiopia - April 10, 1998

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