Ethiopia asks US to support its defiant position on border ruling
Addis Ababa, 03 Aug 04 - A US congressman has said diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and the US are at better stage and the two countries would consolidate their cooperation in development. Congressman Donald Payne met Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin and discussed various issues today. Mulatu Alemayehu has the details:
[Mulatu] Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin has met and held talks in his office with the member of the foreign relations committee of the US Congress, Mr Donald Payne. The two officials discussed Somalia, Sudan and the Ethiopia-Eritrea issues. Mr Seyoum told Mr Payne that Ethiopia, in collaboration with IGAD [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development] member states, was endeavouring to resolve the tribal conflicts in Somalia.
Recalling that the US had made massive efforts to resolve the conflict between the Sudanese government and the [opposition] Sudan People's Liberation Army, SPLA, Mr Seyoum said a careful decision was needed to resolve the crisis in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who attend the meeting quoted Mr Seyoum as saying that the Algiers agreement was signed between Ethiopia and Eritrea on the conviction that it would bring durable peace in the region, however, Ethiopia would not accept the ruling by the [Eritrea-Ethiopia] Boundary Commission because it would not bring about durable peace. Mr Seyoum also called on the US government to appreciate and support this [Ethiopia's position].
For his part, Mr Donald Payne said diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and the US were at a better stage. Mr Payne also stated that the 100-year-old diplomatic relations between the two countries would be consolidated further in the field of development.
Source: Ethiopian TV, Addis Ababa, in Amharic 1000 gmt 3 Aug 04
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