US Department of State Daily Press Briefing May 30, 2006 (QUESTION By: Endale Getahun, ECTV)

Yes, sir.

Daily Press Briefing by,
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC

QUESTION By: Endale Getahun, ECTV
May 30, 2006


QUESTION Endale,ECTV: This weekend the Assistant Secretary of African Affairs Donald visited Ethiopia and do you have any outcomes in meeting with the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi?


MR. MCCORMACK: I don't. I'd be happy to check into it for you. This is Mr. Yamamoto?


QUESTION Endale,ECTV: After he's returned from Kigali or from Rwanda, he stopped over in Addis Ababa.


MR. MCCORMACK: Who is this, Mr. Yamamoto?


QUESTION Endale,ECTV: Yes, sir.


MR. MCCORMACK: Okay. We'll check for you.


QUESTION Endale,ECTV: And last week I asked you about Eritrea.


MR. MCCORMACK: The boundary commission?


QUESTION Endale,ECTV: Yes.


MR. MCCORMACK: I got something for you.


The Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission met twice -- has met twice since February 2006. At the most recent meeting, the witnesses supported -- this is the witnesses to the Algiers agreement -- witnesses supported a U.S. initiative to resume demarcation of the boundary and move toward normalized relations. Progress has been made on steps necessary to resume demarcation. The United States believes that demarcation of the boundary in accord with the delimitation decision of the EEBC is a critical step to ensuring stability and sustainable peace in the region.


The United States has encouraged parties to cooperate with the EEBC and resume demarcation. We have urged other governments to support this position and, as necessary, provide resources to support demarcation.


QUESTION Endale,ECTV: What was your response on the President Isaias Afewerki last week who was accusing the United States for taking side with Ethiopia on demarcation?


MR. MCCORMACK: No, we support the efforts right there -- that were underway for demarcation. You know, we're not a party to this. Certainly, we're part of the witnesses to the Algiers Accords, but our only interest is in seeing the boundary be demarcated in a way that is fair and equitable, and that the way to do that is through the third party of the EEBC. And we have encouraged the parties to take steps to get the demarcation back underway. And right now that's -- the focus of our discussions is for each of the groups to take those steps necessary to get it going again.


QUESTION Endale,ECTV: I'm sorry. Ethiopia is also accusing Eritrea for explosion in Addis Ababa now. So if both of them are competition, do you think this issue of -- on supporting for the terrorist activity in Ethiopia by -- like Ethiopian Government is accusing with the Eritrea saying that they send the OLF... to --


MR. MCCORMACK: I don't have any information to support that claim.




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