Ethiopia Planning To launch Attacks Against Eritrea
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asmara Jan 12, 99

News leaked by various sources, including Western intelligence
sources, report that the Ethiopian Government will launch
attacks against Eritrea between mid January and mid February
along three directions.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway by U.S officials to ascertain
whether the air moratorium still holds.

The Government of Eritrea has always maintained that both
parties must renounce force as a means of settling their border
dispute. It has repeatedly affirmed that what is needed is a
binding agreement on cessation of all hostilities, including a total
ban on air strikes. The Ethiopian Government, however, has
been adamantly opposed to a cessation of hostilities, even to a
ban on air attacks. The result of accepting Ethiopia's condition
is a precarious "moratorium" - which it can unilaterally break at
a time of its choosing.

Ethiopia's repeatedly declared intent to launch war is by now
widely known. While anyone is free to speculate about the
outcome of any such war, it is highly unfortunate that Ethiopia
has been helped in its belligerent attitude by extraneous
circumstances and misguided parties.

The Government of Eritrea has never - and does not - consider
war as an option. It realizes full well that war can not resolve
the dispute. But if it is attacked, it reserves its legitimate right to
self-defense. In that event, it is the Government of Ethiopia
which bears full responsibility.