US Secretary of State calls for de-escalation between Ethiopia and Eritrea

Washington, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Wednesday with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressing the escalating tensions with neighbor Eritrea. The U.S. State Department spokesperson’s office said in a statement that Rubio emphasized during the call “the need for de-escalation by all parties.” The statement added that Rubio stressed that the only sustainable solution to internal and external tensions is through dialogue and communication, in line with the peace agreement reached between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2018. The U.S. secretary of state called on all Horn of Africa countries to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their neighbors and to avoid cross-border incursions, stressing that the region cannot bear further conflicts. The U.S. State Department had previously warned of the repercussions of recent escalation along the Eritrea-Ethiopia border and urged both sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue, noting that the outbreak of conflict would jeopardize the existing U.S. cooperation with both countries. Last week, Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in the Eritrean capital and expelled 10 diplomats from Addis Ababa, citing what it described as “direct and indirect hostile and escalatory acts.” In response, Eritrea decided to sever all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. (End) A.M.M. / H.S.S.