SECURITY COUNCIL AGAIN CONDEMNS ERITREA’S LACK OF COOPERATION WITH UN MISSION, SAYS CONTINUED OBSTRUCTIONS HAVE UNDERMINED MANDATE

Security Council

5883rd Meeting (Night)

Noting that Eritrea’s obstructions towards the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) had reached a level undermining the basis of the Mission’s mandate and had compelled it to temporarily relocate, the Security Council this evening recalled its condemnation of Eritrea’s lack of cooperation.

In a presidential statement read out by Council President Dumisani S. Kumalo of South Africa, the Council expressed its readiness to assist the parties to overcome the current stalemate, taking into account the interests and concerns of both parties.  The decision on the terms of a future engagement in Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as the future of the Mission, would be taken in the light of consultations with the parties.

Stressing that the primary responsibility for achieving settlement of the border dispute between the two countries and normalizing their relations rests with the parties themselves, the Council urged both sides to show maximum restraint and to refrain from any threat or use of force against each other.

The meeting was called to order at 9:20 p.m. and adjourned at 9:22 p.m.

The full text of the statement, to be issued as document S/PRST/2008/12, reads as follows:

“The Security Council notes that the continuation of Eritrea’s obstructions towards United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has reached a level so as to undermine the basis of the Mission’s mandate and has compelled UNMEE to temporarily relocate.  The Security Council recalls its previous condemnation of Eritrea’s lack of cooperation.

“The Security Council notes the underlying fundamental issues and stands ready to assist the parties to overcome the current stalemate, taking into account the interests and concerns of both parties.

“The Security Council will, in the light of consultations with the parties, decide on the terms of a future United Nations engagement and on the future of UNMEE.

“The Security Council stresses, in accordance with its repeated statements, that the primary responsibility for achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the border dispute and normalizing their relations rests with the parties themselves.

“The Security Council urges both sides to show maximum restraint and to refrain from any threat or use of force against each other and calls upon the parties to address forthwith the unresolved issues in accordance with the commitments made in the Algiers Agreements.”

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