Italy has “a glimmer of hope” for peace initiative

The Italian deputy foreign minister, Rino Serri, has said he will exert further efforts for the successful implementation of “an innovative approach within the context of the OAU framework agreement”, after holding talks with the leaders of Eritrea and Ethiopia, the Eritrean News Agency reported on Tuesday. “I entertain a glimmer of hope that the new Italian initiative ... would be accepted by both Ethiopia and Eritrea”, Reuters news agency quoted Serri as saying, while diplomatic sources told IRIN that Italy hoped to establish a temporary ceasefire up to and through next month’s OAU summit in Algiers. The Italian efforts to get the peace plan moving were a reflection of the EU’s desire to see peace restored, and both sides in the conflict had agreed to consider the proposals, Serri told the news agency.