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GV Ethiopian flag at ambassador's residence (2 shots)
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SV INTERIOR Foreign Minister Col. Feleke Gedle Ghiorgis conducting news conference
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GHIORGIS: "The Somalis have carried out an aggression against Ethiopia. This is clear. We are fighting inside Ethiopian territory. There is no such thing as Western Somalia Liberation Front, it's a fictitious name. The Somalis are using their entire war machine, entire armed forces and ground forces against Ethiopia. We are indeed fighting inside Ethiopia, the fighting is going on."



REPORTER: "Minister, reports today say that the Soviet Union have appealed to both Ethiopia and Somalia to bring an immediate end to the fighting and has urged both countries to solve their differences peacefully, and Tass news agency is quoted as saying that the Soviet Union was continuing efforts to settle relations between Ethiopia and Somalia. Has the Soviet Union put forward any type of proposals as to how this dispute can be settled?"



GHIORGIS: "We, er, we don't have any concrete proposal put forward to us. Of course Ethiopia is prepared for any sort of dialogue, but first and foremost the Somalis must withdraw their forces from Ethiopian territory. It is on this basis that Ethiopia is prepared to settle any dispute that exists between the two countries."




Initials BB/1730



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Background: The Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Colonel Feleke Gedle Ghiorgis says the Soviet Union hasn't yet put forward any concrete proposals for ending the war in the Ogaden desert, and that Somalis must first withdraw their troops from Ethiopian territory before any settlement can take place. Col. Ghiorgis was speaking to newsmen in Nairobi, on his way back from Gabon, on Sunday (14 August).