Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia
Brussels, 2 March 1999 - The European Union welcomes the fact that Eritrea has accepted the Organisation for African Unity's draft for a framework agreement by means of the letter which the Eritrean President sent to the United Nations Security Council on February 27. The Union considers the OAU's proposal the only basis for a peaceful solution of the conflict. This position was emphasized by the EU Ministerial Troika which visited Addis Abeba and Asmara on 19 and 20 February.
The European Union again urges both parties to immediately cease hostilities on all fronts and to refrain from any further use of violence.
Given the fact that Ethiopia had already accepted the OAU plan, the European Union considers that both parties now have the chance to settle their conflict through negotiations on the basis of this document which has the support of the European Union and of the United Nations Security Council. It calls upon Ethiopia and Eritrea to fully implement the OAU framework agreement without any further delay.
The European Union reiterates its willingness to assist the OAU in the implementation of a negotiated settlement of the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated country Cyprus and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.