ERITREA: ERITREA SAYS IT WILL NOT GIVE UP IN ITS LONG-RUNNING BORDER WAR WITH ETHIOPIA

Record ID: 496285

  • Title: ERITREA: ERITREA SAYS IT WILL NOT GIVE UP IN ITS LONG-RUNNING BORDER WAR WITH ETHIOPIA
  • Date: 16th May 2000
  • Summary: ASMARA, ERITREA (MAY 16, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN: TRUCKS CARRYING ERITREAN SOLDIERS TO BORDER 0.12 2. SV: STREET SCENE 0.29 3. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) VOX POP, TEACHER GABRISH BUHANI (PHONETIC): "The war has started already, and I believe that we Eritreans, we are going to . . . we will be the winners." 0.49 4. WS: STREET SCENE 0.54 5. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English)(AUDIO AS INCOMING) PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR YEMANE GHEBREMESKEL, ASKED HOW LONG CAN ERITREA FIGHT THIS WAR: "The question should be reversed. How long can Ethiopia sustain a war of aggression when it is suffering losses at the rate that it is suffering in the last five days? "If you are talking about tenacity, if past experience is any indication (indistinct). . . we dont't have any objective, but if people come to occupy us, that's not going to happen, so we fight as long as it takes." 1.34 6. PAN: NIGHT VIEWS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION LIGHTS SHINING ON MAIN STREET, LIBERATION AVENUE 1.43 7. VARIOUS: STUDENTS REHEARSE PERFORMANCE FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS ON MAY 24 (2 SHOTS) 2.06 8. ZOOM IN/WS: FURTHER VIEW OF LIGHTS (2 SHOTS) 2.34 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ASMARA, ERITREA
  • Country: Eritrea
  • Reuters ID: LVA994E6P30ESAEFH6KWGWA4TSS9
  • Story Text: Eritrea has said it will not give up in the
    long-running border war with Ethiopia.

    Ethiopia launched an air and land offensive on Friday
    against its former province, the latest stage in a row over
    territorial sovereignty that erupted in May 1998 that has cost
    tens of thousands of lives on both sides.

    The U.N.Security Council moved closer on Wednesday toward
    imposing an arms embargo on both sides.

    Pictures from the Eritrean capital Asmara on Tuesday
    (May 16) showed trucks carrying Eritrean army soldiers towards
    the border.

    Both politicians and members of the public say Eritrea
    will not surrender to Ethiopia.One man, teacher Gabrish
    Buhani (phonetic) said: "The war has started already, and I
    believe that we Eritreans, we are going to...we will be
    the winners."
    Presidential advisor Yemane Gherbremeskel, asked how long
    Eritrea could continue fighting, said: "The question should be
    reversed.How long can Ethiopia sustain a war of aggression
    when it is suffering losses at the rate that it is suffering
    in the last five days?
    "If you are talking about tenacity, if past experience is
    any indication (indistinct)...we dont't have any objective,
    but
    if people come to occupy us, that's not going to happen, so we
    fight as long as it takes," said Gherbremeskel.

    As the war continues, Asmara's main street, Liberation
    Avenue, was festooned with lights.Students were rehearsing
    for Eritria's Independence Day celebrations on May 24.

    The U.S.-initiated arms embargo resolution would bar the
    sale or supply of weapons and related equipment to the two
    combatants as well as any military technical assistance until
    the two countries sign a peace pact ending their two-year old
    war.

    Eritrea wants both sides to sign a ceasefire pact before
    sitting down to thrash out the finer points of a peace accord.

    Ethiopia, the militarily stronger country, wants the peace
    agreement completed before a ceasefire, saying Eritrea had
    started the war in May 1998.

    Tensions between the two neighbours over border claims and
    economic policy exploded into war in May 1998 and tens of
    thousands have been killed in World War I-style trench
    warfare.

    Ethiopia and Eritrea both insist they want a settlement
    but each blames the other for a series of failed peace
    initiatives since the conflict began.

    The last phase of fighting followed a year-long lull, a
    week after the breakdown of peace talks held in Algiers under
    the auspices of the Organisation of African Unity.Algeria
    holds the current presidency of the OAU, which has its
    headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

    Eritrea has received monies for its arms from exile
    communities in the United States and Canada, diplomats say.

    Ethiopia, the stronger country, has skimped on other services
    to purchase arms.

    Both nations have bought weapons in eastern Europe where
    prices have dropped considerably since the end of the Cold
    War.And both are battling a drought and ensuing famine that
    threatens more than nine million of their people.

    Once close allies, Eritrea gained independence from
    Ethiopia in 1993, following the overthrow of former Marxist
    military dictator Haile Mengistu Mariam.


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