unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/24/89)
Ethiopia, EPLF End Atlanta Talks with Differences Remaining
Posting Date: 09/24/89 Source: UNITEX Network, Hoboken, NJ, USA
Host: (201) 795-0733 ISSN: 1043-7932
(Associated Press, 19 September, 550 words, DATELINE: Atlanta)
Ethiopia and the Eritrean People's Liberation Front on Tuesday
concluded nearly two weeks of negotiations, still disputing who
would chair talks to end their 28-year-old war but expecting to
resolve that and other remaining issues during a meeting in
November.
The two sides will meet again Nov. 18 in Nairobi, Kenya, to
complete the preliminary talks that began Sept. 7 at The Carter
Center.
Former President Jimmy Carter, an observer to the Atlanta talks,
said he hoped Ethiopia and the EPLF would iron out their
differences on preliminary issues and ratify a plan for
substantative peace talks at the Nairobi meeting.
According to a joint communique issued Tuesday by the Ethiopian
and EPLF delegations, the two sides agreed to 13 items during
the Atlanta talks, which were held to develop a framework for
peace talks. Both sides also indicated a desire for Carter to
play a continuing role in peacemaking efforts.
But differences remained over the chairmanship, observers and
staff for the future talks.
Carter, Ethiopian delegation leader Ashegre Yigletu and Eritrean
delegation head Al-Amin Mohamed Saiyed said much progress had
been made during the Atlanta talks, but cautioned that an end to
the war is not imminent.
"Atlanta has been an arena within which they could build up
mutual trust," Carter said. "Obviously, differences on major
issues are still there.
"For 28 years they have not been able to make this much
progress, and many hundreds of thousands of people have
perished," he said.
The items agreed to during the Atlanta talks were mostly
procedural, though the two sides did agree that the sites for
the peace talks will be rotated between Nairobi, Khartoum,
Sana'a, Cairo, Ashura and Harare. A date has not been set for
the peace talks.
The duties and functions of the chairman or co-chairmen were
agreed upon. The Eritreans, however, want Carter to serve as
chairman with a co-chairman selected from among the heads of
state of the venue countries.
Ethiopia wants two equal and permanent co-chairmen, with one
being an African leader.
The two sides disagreed over whether observers may only be
representatives of nations, or if they may represent
international organizations.
Earlier in the talks, the possibility was raised over whether a
cease-fire could be effected during the interim between the
preliminary discussions and the peace talks. Both sides Tuesday
declined to commit to such action before the peace talks.
Combat and famine have combined to kill an estimated 1 million
people since Ethiopia and Eritrea went to war in 1961. Ethiopia
considers the war a battle of secession, while the Eritreans
view the war as a battle for independence.
Eritrea, a northern province, was joined with Ethiopia in a
federation the Eritreans opposed. Eritrea provides Ethiopia's
only direct access to the Red Sea.
After several attempts to arrange peace talks over the years
failed, the two sides earlier this year agreed for Carter to
serve as a neutral observer for preliminary discussions aimed at
setting an agenda for peace talks.
The talks were suspended over the weekend while Carter traveled
to Nicaragua for a previously scheduled fact-finding mission
before that country's national elections. Carter plans to act as
an observer to the February voting.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
---
Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726
patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | BBS: 201-795-0733
patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | (3/12/24/9600 Baud)
-=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-