Ethiopia to Release Eritrean POWs

Ethiopia will release the first batch of Eritrean prisoners of war (POWs) soon as part of the implementation of its commitment to the peace agreement with Eritrea.

The Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that nearly 390 wounded Eritrean soldiers will be released in a few days.

The statement said that "the process of implementation of the applicable provisions of the agreement will continue step by step in cooperation and coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)".

"Ethiopia considers the Peace Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea signed on December 12 in Algiers as a document which lays the basis for peace between the two countries. Accordingly, Ethiopia is committed to the scrupulous and faithful implementation of all the provisions of the agreement," the statement said.

The ICRC is expected to organize the necessary logistics needed for the repatriation of the POWs.

"It is the hope of the Ethiopian government that with the cooperation of the ICRC, the release and repatriation of Eritrean POWs, which will be commencing immediately, will soon be completed in conformity with the letter and spirit of the Peace Agreement between the two countries." the statement added.






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