Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
June 3, 1998

The Dispute Between Ethiopia and Eritrea

At the request of both parties, for more than two weeks the Governments of the United States and Rwanda have been engaged in intensive efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The objective of the joint American-Rwandan facilitation effort has been to promote a peaceful and durable settlement of this dispute and to prevent a war, which would cost many lives and undermine regional stability. Having excellent relations with the Governments of both Eritrea and Ethiopia, the United States and Rwanda have sought to encourage both parties to protect the peace that has taken root in the Horn of Africa since 1991. Throughout our facilitation effort, we urged both parties to exercise restraint.

The facilitation team listened carefully to the detailed positions of both parties and attempted to take full account of their respective perspectives and interests without making any judgment as to where the disputed border lies or what actions may have precipitated the crisis that began with the border skirmish on May 6.

Based on our consultations, it is clear to the United States and Rwanda that there are many areas of commonality between the two parties and that there exists a practical, principled basis for peaceful resolution of this conflict. Thus, the facilitators presented recommendations to both parties on May 30-31 and asked each party to confirm their acceptance of these recommendation.

The U.S.-Rwandan recommendations are summarized as follows:

1) Both parties should commit themselves to the following principles: resolving this and any other dispute between them by peaceful means; renouncing force as a means of imposing solutions; agreeing to undertake measures to reduce current tensions; and seeking the final disposition of their common border, on the basis of established colonial treaties and international law applicable to such treaties.

2) To reduce current tensions, and without prejudice to the territorial claims of either party: a small observer mission should be deployed to Badme; Eritrean forces should redeploy from Badme to positions held before May 6, 1998; the previous civilian administration should return; and there should be an investigation into the events of May 6, 1998.

3) To achieve lasting resolution of the underlying border dispute, both parties should agree to the swift and binding delimitation and demarcation of the Eritrea-Ethiopia border. Border delimitation should be determined on the basis of established colonial treaties and international law applicable to such treaties, and the delimitation and demarcation process should be completed by a qualified technical team as soon as possible. The demarcated border should be accepted and adhered to by both parties, and, upon completion of demarcation, the legitimate authorities assume jurisdiction over their respective sovereign territories.

4) Both parties should demilitarize the entire common border as soon as possible.

Finally, the facilitators presented both sides with a detailed implementation plan and recommended that each party convey, in a legal and binding manner, their acceptance of the above recommendations and implementation plan to the facilitators.

The United States and Rwanda regret that these recommendations have not yet been accepted by both sides as the basis for a peaceful resolution of this dispute. We are gravely concerned by the resumption of hostilities in recent days, which will render more difficult efforts to achieve a peaceful outcome.

As friends of the Government of Eritrea and Ethiopia, the United States and Rwanda call on both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict, to reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful resolution of this dispute, to halt the fighting and to accept without delay the facilitators' recommendations as the basis for a peaceful resolution of this conflict. We remain committed to helping both sides achieve a peaceful settlement and avoid wider conflict through pursuit of further diplomatic efforts.

The Rwandan Government is issuing a statement on this important matter as well.

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