    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [June 18, 2000]
    [Page 1172]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1172]]

    Statement on the Ethiopia-Eritrea Cease-Fire Agreement
    June 18, 2000

        Today in Algiers, Ethiopia and Eritrea signed an agreement to cease
    hostilities. This is a breakthrough which can and should end the tragic
    conflict in the Horn of Africa. It can and should permit these two
    countries to realize their potential in peace, instead of squandering it
    in war.
        I commend the Organization of African Unity, and especially its
    chair, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, for leading the negotiation of this agreement. I am
    grateful to my envoy, former National Security Adviser Anthony
    Lake, to Assistant Secretary of State Susan
    Rice, and to my senior adviser on African
    affairs, Gayle Smith, for their tireless pursuit
    of a peaceful resolution to this conflict. The United States has
    supported the OAU in this effort, and we will continue to do so. I have
    asked Tony Lake to return to Algiers to work with the OAU as we enter
    the next round of negotiations.
        I hope this commitment by Ethiopia and Eritrea to stop the fighting
    also signals their commitment to build the peace. I urge them to use the
    next round of talks to produce a final, comprehensive, lasting
    agreement, so they can get on with the work of pursuing democracy and
    development for their people. Ethiopia and Eritrea are America's
    friends. If they are ready to take the next step, we and our partners in
    the international community will walk with them.