    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2000)]
    [Page 1394]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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.