OAU chairman in Asmara for peace talks

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, current chairman of the OAU, arrived in Asmara on Thursday for talks on the conflict with President Isayas Afewerki, Eritrean radio reported. It gave no further details. Bouteflika flew to the Eritrean capital from Addis Ababa, where he had talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Eritrea said on Thursday it had fulfilled its side of a deal proposed by the OAU to withdraw troops and it was now the responsibility of Ethiopia to restore peace. “We have done more than enough. I fail to see anything more we can do,” presidential spokesman Yemane told Agence France Press (AFP). In its latest appeal to the two sides, the OAU appeared to have dropped a clause on technical arrangements for the implementation of its Framework Agreement. These included both parties’ acceptance of a commission to determine redeployment positions, the establishment of a peacekeeping mission and agreement by the parties to cease all military activities and all forms of expression likely to sustain and exacerbate the climate of hostility. The latest OAU statement reiterated its call to both parties to put an end to the hostilities, to commit themselves to a peaceful solution based on the OAU Framework Agreement and to resume proximity talks.