Security Council welcomes "initial" responses

The UN Security Council on Wednesday welcomed the "initial positive response" of Ethiopia and Eritrea to OAU proposals for ending the conflict. In a press statement issued after a briefing by UN Special Envoy for Africa Mohamed Sahnoun, Council members urged the two governments to formally sign the modalities to fully implement a framework agreement proposed by the OAU. They expressed the hope that this action "might be an important step towards resolving the devastating conflict". A seven-point modalities agreement was unanimously accepted by the 35th assembly of OAU heads of state and government in Algiers earlier this month.