Eritreans should force their govt to accept new peace plan: Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 24, 2004 (ENA) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need that Eritreans in and out of the country should make pressure on their government to accept Ethiopia’ five-point new peace initiative proposed by the Ethiopian government to resolve the Ethio-Eritrean border dispute.

In its news letter issued in December 2004, the Ministry said the Eritrean government should understand that the border dispute between the two countries would only be solved through peaceful means.

It said the new peace proposal invites the Eritrean government to enter into negotiation to resolve the dispute peacefully.

The Ministry said refraining to accept the new peace proposal on the part of the Eritrean government would lead the two countries to unwanted situations, which it said, would also be a threat to the peace and stability of East Africa.

It said Ethiopia has repeatedly confirmed that it would not go to war unless obliged to do so, as democracy and development are the two top most agendas for Ethiopia now.

It said Ethiopia believes that the dispute could be resolved through peaceful means and the principle of give and take.