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Ethiopia
says wants talks to solve
border dispute
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 ADDIS
ABABA(August 1,2008) - Ethiopia
said on Thursday it wanted to resolve a border impasse with Eritrea
by dialogue, but might defend itself if its Red Sea neighbour violated
its territory.
Eritrea is angry that the United Nations has not enforced a 2007 ruling
by an independent boundary commission awarding most of the territory
in dispute along their 1,000 km (620 mile) border to Eritrea.
The U.N. Security Council voted on Wednesday to disband its 1,700-strong
force on the volatile border -- a move that had been expected since
Eritrea cut the force's fuel supplies in February.
"Ethiopia does not entertain war as an option to resolve the
impasse created by Eritrea," said Wahade Belay, spokesman for
Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry.
"However, Ethiopia reserves the right to defend itself should
Eritrea attempt to violate its territorial integrity and sovereignty."
The two countries signed a peace agreement in Algiers in 2000 after
a two-year war that killed some 70,000 people.
"Ethiopia is ready to resolve the crisis including normalisation
of overall relations with Eritrea through dialogue," Wahade said.
He was speaking after the Security Council appealed to both sides
to "show maximum restraint and refrain from any threat of use
of force".
He criticised council members for failing to take punitive measures
against Eritrea -- which also says it will not start a war -- for
what he said were violations of the Algiers pact.
"The U.N. has allowed itself to be humiliated by a rogue regime
in Eritrea which is creating instability in the Horn of Africa,"
he said.
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