B4-0605, 0620, 0631, 0637, 0644, 0649 and 0664/98

Resolution on the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea

The European Parliament,

A. deploring the outbreak of military hostilities between the Republic of Eritrea and the Republic of Ethiopia, and whereas the cause of the war is the absence of an agreement over the demarcation of the frontier,

B. recalling that after Eritrean independence in 1993, a boundary commission was set up and was meeting without major incident until a few days before the military clash took place in May 1998,

C. deploring the recent bombing raids on both sides that caused the loss of many lives among the civilian population and forced part of the population to flee,

D. whereas the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea suffered for a long time under a totalitarian dictatorship, which they threw off by means of a long and bloody war, ended by a peaceful separation, following which the two governments have cooperated on a number of occasions,

E. concerned at the danger that the conflict may escalate, despite the many efforts at mediation since it broke out, and that, unless a peaceful solution is found quickly, this conflict could destabilize the region and result in a tragedy which would affect the populations of the Horn of Africa as a whole,

F. regretting that, during the almost 40 days since the war broke out, the Council has merely issued condemnations and appeals similar to this resolution, without taking any other action under the common foreign and security policy,

G. whereas much of the population of both Ethiopia and Eritrea live in miserable conditions in terms of nutrition, health and educational facilities; whereas a war between the two neighbouring countries will definitely worsen the prevailing social conditions of the two states,

The European Parliament,

1. Condemns the escalation of violence between Ethiopia and Eritrea and urges both parties to adhere to the ceasefire and to find a just and peaceful settlement to their frontier dispute and, in this context, to cooperate fully with the international mediation efforts brokered by the OAU, the United States and Rwanda;

2. Considers that the territorial conflict between these two countries must be settled by negotiation; invites the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to initiate diplomatic negotiations in order to find a peaceful and political solution to the problems between the two parties, and urges the two parties to settle the border dispute through the boundary commission and/or through the International Court of Justice;

3. Supports the mediation efforts undertaken at international level and calls on the Council of the European Union and on the Organisation of African Unity to put pressure on the two countries to accept a political settlement of this conflict;

4. Calls on the Commission to prepare adequate emergency aid in order to help all populations affected by the conflict and to deal with the massive displacement of refugees;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, the United Nations, the OAU and the governments of Ethiopia, Eritrea, the United States, Rwanda and Djibouti.