In our opinion Eritrea's leaders would do well to put an end to their fabrication of new stories, plots and sub-plots and face the inevitable. The facts don't help them.

Clearly what Eritrea is trying to do is to scuttle yet another effort by the OAU at peacemaking - like it did to the US and Rwanda and to all others of goodwill who tried to help.  The OAU should recognize this and deal with this subterfuge accordingly.

As for Ethiopia, it was not because we needed proof that Badme belonged to Ethiopia that we went along and cooperated with the OAU's efforts to verify who administered the area before May 1998.  We cooperated with this effort because, although painful, we respected the OAU and desired to facilitate its well intentioned task.  It was obvious to us that the OAU would conclude matters in our favour.  After all the facts cannot be changed, and the facts were on our side.

We simply wish to call upon the OAU and all concerned with finding a solution to this crisis that the new round of prevarication by the Eritrean authorities should not be tolerated and that the appropriate steps be taken to put the necessary pressure upon Asmara to listen to reason and to take the steps critical for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

14 August 1998