Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Airlift of Ethiopian
Jews to Israel
(May 24, 1991)
We are delighted to announce that this morning at 7
a.m. Washington time, an emergency humanitarian airlift began which
will transport the 18,000 Ethiopian Jews in Addis Ababa to Israel. The
operation results from an agreement between the Governments of Israel
and Ethiopia. We expect the airlift to last 2 days. We have been informed
that the operation is proceeding smoothly.
We want to express our appreciation to Acting President
Tesfaye Gebre-Kidan of Ethiopia. We understand that the Ethiopian decision
to allow the Falashas to depart the country was taken in response to
a letter from President Bush on May 22. Our initiative in this humanitarian
operation commenced with the visit of Senator Rudy Boschwitz to Addis
Ababa as a special emissary of the President on April 26 - 27.
The United States will be hosting a conference in London
starting on May 27 to help facilitate an end to the tragic war in Ethiopia.
We hope at that time to see the establishment of a provisional government
and agreement on a plan for a political transition leading to peace
and democracy.
Israeli Prime Minister Shamir called President Bush
at about 11 a.m. aboard Air Force One to thank him for the American
role in release of the Falashas. The Prime Minister and the President
also discussed the Mideast peace process. The Prime Minister expressed
his appreciation for Secretary Baker's efforts in the Mideast and said
he hoped the peace process will continue.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |