Eritrea, Ethiopia Accept U.S. Proposal to Halt Airstrikes Immediately

In a tentative step to help defuse Africa’s latest conflict, the White House announced Sunday that the warring governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia have accepted a U.S. proposal to “halt immediately” airstrikes and the threat of airstrikes.

The announcement followed intervention by President Clinton, who talked with the two countries’ leaders as he flew from Los Angeles to Washington. Italy also played a role, with a special envoy having commuted over the weekend between the capitals of the former Italian colonies.

The U.S. welcomed the pact as a step to “restore the mutual confidence” necessary to move toward peaceful resolution “as quickly as possible,” according to a statement released by the White House.

Since the fighting erupted last month over a disputed border area, hundreds have been killed in tank and artillery battles. More than 50 Eritreans and Ethiopians, predominantly civilians, have been killed in recent bombing raids.

The escalation led to the evacuation of foreigners from Asmara, the Eritrean capital. Commercial air traffic to Asmara stopped June 5.

The new agreement will “limit the risk” to civilians as well as the damage to the economic infrastructure of both countries, the White House said.

Both Horn of Africa countries are still reconstructing from years of civil conflict when Eritrea was a province of Ethiopia. After a three-decade separatist war, Eritrea’s rebels helped Ethiopian militias defeat Ethiopia’s bloody and militarily strong Marxist regime in 1991, and, after a national referendum, the province became independent in 1993.

The moratorium on the air war will continue “indefinitely” or until either country determines that peace prospects have “come to an end” and formally notifies the U.S. that it will no longer honor the agreement, the statement added.

The U.S. mediation is one part of a broader international effort to end the conflict. Besides the shuttles by Italy’s special envoy, Rino Serri, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is also working on a cease-fire so that talks could settle the dispute. And later this week, five leaders appointed by the Organization of African Unity will launch a peace mission.

In Asmara, a presidential spokesman also welcomed a truce in the air war. “A cessation of air raids is a partial aspect of a cessation of hostilities, and that is what we want,” said Yemane Gebremeskel.

There was no comment from officials in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.