[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 1\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, recently I met with representatives of the 
Ethiopian and Eritrean embassies. The two countries are involved in a 
horrific border war that since May, 1998, has resulted in tens of 
thousands of casualties.
  As family doctor who worked in a refugee camp near Kassala, Sudan, in 
1985, and treated refugees from both Tigre and Eritrea, it is 
heartbreaking to see this war continue. Just a few years ago, the Horn 
of Africa was one of the most promising development storise on the 
continent. There was great hope for both Eritrea and Ethiopia in 1991, 
two countries with a great deal in common. Now, tragically, that 
promise is gone, swept away in war.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not rise to ask the United States to take sides 
militarily in this war. It is not in our interests, or in those of the 
warring parties, that we do. What I do ask is for the two warring 
nations, Ethiopia and Eritrea, to agree to a cease-fire and peace 
settlement. The OAU proposal seems to be acceptable to both countries, 
but for unclear reasons has not been signed.
  A cease-fire and peace treaty must be agreed to. The war must end. 
New enemies must again become old friends.

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