From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Jul 31 2008 - 08:23:29 EDT
30 July 2008
Security Council
5946th Meeting (AM)
Security Council terminates mandate of United Nations Mission in Ethiopia
and Eritrea, urging both countries to cooperate with liquidation process
The Security Council today terminated the mandate of the eight-year-old
peacekeeping force monitoring the border dispute between Ethiopia and
Eritrea and requested UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to explore further
with the two Horn of Africa countries the possibility of a United Nations
presence in the area.
Unanimously adopting resolution 1827 (2008), the Council decided to end the
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) when it's mandate
expires on Thursday, 31 July, and called on the two sides to cooperate fully
with the world body in the process of liquidating the operation. It also
demanded that Ethiopia and Eritrea comply fully with their obligations under
the Algiers Agreements, "to show maximum restraint and refrain from any
threat or use of force against each other, and to avoid provocative military
activities".
The Council emphasized that the termination was without prejudice to
Ethiopia's and Eritrea's obligations under the Algiers accords, by which
both countries agreed that the delimitation and demarcation determinations
of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission would be final and binding, and
that their respective forces would respect the integrity of the Temporary
Security Zone (TSZ).
Expressing regret that Eritrea's obstructions towards UNMEE had "reached a
level so as to undermine the basis of the Mission's mandate and compelled
[it] to temporarily relocate from Eritrea", the Council commended efforts by
the Mission and its military and civilian personnel to accomplish their
duties despite the difficult circumstances, and expressed also its deep
appreciation for the contributions and dedication of troop-contributing
countries to UNMEE's work.
The Council also expressed strong support for the ongoing efforts by the
Secretary-General and the international community to engage with Ethiopia
and Eritrea to help them implement the Algiers Agreements, normalize their
relations, promote stability between them, and lay the foundation for a
comprehensive and lasting peace between them. It urged both countries to
accept the Secretary-General's good offices.
By other terms of the text, the Council took note of the Secretary-General's
letter to the Council, dated 28 July 2008, which reports on the
Secretariat's consultations with the parties, based on the following
options, which were outlined in his earlier report: (a) a small military
observer mission in Ethiopia; (b) a small political and military liaison
office in Ethiopia; and (c) a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General based
in New York.
The Secretary-General notes that, while those options were designed as
conflict-prevention measures aimed at demonstrating the international
community's continued commitment to a peaceful resolution of the border
dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea pending the establishment of an
environment conducive to the normalization of their relations, "both parties
have rejected the options put before them".
While welcoming the parties' earlier declarations that they had no intention
of restarting the 1998-2000 war, the Secretary-General nevertheless believes
that the risk of escalating tensions in the border area and of a resumption
of hostilities, "by accident or design, following the withdrawal of UNMEE,
remains a reality". He also remains concerned about the destabilizing
effect for the Horn of Africa of the continuing crisis and its negative
impact on prospects for the region's economic development and the welfare of
its people.
Following the Council's vote, Jan Grauls ( Belgium), the resolution's main
sponsor, underlined that the border dispute remained and the United Nations
was withdrawing without having been able to assist Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Neither the good offices of the Secretary-General nor constructive proposals
by Council members had been able to achieve their objectives. "The work of
UNMEE is coming to an end -- not because its mandate has been implemented,
but because it has become impossible for [the Mission] to implement it."
Recalling that Eritrea had restricted the Mission's freedom of movement to
the point of leaving the buffer zone it was supposed to monitor, he said its
mandate had also been restricted by Ethiopia's refusal to implement the
decision of the Boundary Commission. "The responsibility for the current
impasse falls on the parties and on the parties alone." Only they could now
decide to exit the vicious cycle by choosing the path of dialogue, and the
international community remained ready to assist them. Belgium, like most
other members of the Council, would have preferred to maintain a United
Nations presence on the ground as a tangible symbol of its preparedness to
seek a lasting solution, but the two countries were refusing its presence.
It was to be hoped that once tension around UNMEE and its future had
settled, a climate more conducive to dialogue would emerge.
In other business today, the Council paid tribute to Marcello Spatafora,
outgoing Permanent Representative of Italy, who said after accepting the
Council President's best wishes, that his experience had been "very
rewarding". While there had been many positive achievements during his
tenure, there had also been frustrations, especially those arising from lack
of success in meeting the expectations of the suffering on the ground.
Indeed, there were ever increasing calls for a more effective Security
Council. To answer that call, the Council must strengthen its "listening
culture". It must be more open and receptive to the feelings and values
prevailing among the wider United Nations membership and the overall
international community.
He went on to say that the Council must work harder to inspire the broader
international community's ownership in its proceedings. Without such a
feeling of ownership, it would be difficult at the end of the day to ensure
implementation and compliance. Further, Council members must make every
possible effort to understand each other, which was a sign of strength, not
weakness. The Council must never lose sight of the fact that, at the end of
the day, its goal was to make a difference on the ground. At stake was the
Council's credibility and relevance.
The meeting began at 10:20 a.m. and ended at 10:40 a.m.
*Resolution*
The full text of resolution 1827 (2008) reads as follows:
*"The Security Council*,
"*Reaffirming* all its previous resolutions and statements of its President
pertaining to the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea,
"*Stressing* once again its unwavering commitment to the peace process and
to the full and expeditious implementation of the Agreement on Cessation of
Hostilities of 18 June 2000 (S/2000/601) and the Peace Agreement of 12
December 2000 (S/2000/1183) (hereinafter referred to as "the Algiers
Agreements") as a basis for peaceful and cooperative relations between
Ethiopia and Eritrea,
"*Considering* that Ethiopia and Eritrea bear a shared responsibility in the
implementation of the Algiers Agreements, in which they agreed that the
delimitation and demarcation determinations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary
Commission (EEBC) shall be final and binding and that their forces shall
respect the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ),
"*Reaffirming* that the primary responsibility for achieving a comprehensive
and lasting settlement of the border dispute and normalizing their relations
rests with Ethiopia and Eritrea, and that the Security Council stands ready
to assist them in addressing the underlying fundamental issues, taking into
account the interests and concerns of both countries,
"*Regretting* that Eritrea's obstructions towards the United Nations Mission
in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) reached a level so as to undermine the basis
of the Mission's mandate and compelled UNMEE to temporarily relocate from
Eritrea, *stressing* that this relocation was without prejudice to the
Algiers Agreements and to the integrity of the TSZ, and *recalling* the
Security Council's previous condemnation of Eritrea's lack of cooperation,
"*Commending* the efforts made by UNMEE and its military and civilian
personnel to accomplish its duties, despite the difficult circumstances, and
*expressing* its deep appreciation for the contribution and dedication of
the troop-contributing countries to the work of UNMEE,
"*Having* *considered* the special report of the Secretary-General of 7
April 2008 (S/2008/226), the letters from Ethiopia and Eritrea dated
respectively 17 and 18 June 2008, in response to the letters of the
President of the Security Council of 10 June 2008, and the letter from the
Secretary-General of 28 July 2008 (S/2008/496), in response to the letter of
the President of the Security Council of 3 July 2008,
"1. *Decides* to terminate UNMEE's mandate effective on 31 July 2008, *
emphasizes* that this termination is without prejudice to Ethiopia and
Eritrea's obligations under the Algiers Agreements and *calls upon* both
countries to cooperate fully with the United Nations including in the
process of liquidation of UNMEE;
"2. *Demands* Ethiopia and Eritrea to comply fully with their obligations
under the Algiers Agreements, to show maximum restraint and refrain from any
threat or use of force against each other, and to avoid provocative military
activities;
"3. *Strongly* *supports* the ongoing efforts by the Secretary-General and
the international community to engage with Ethiopia and Eritrea to help them
to implement the Algiers Agreements, to normalize their relations, to
promote stability between them, and to lay the foundation for a
comprehensive and lasting peace between them, and *urges* again Ethiopia and
Eritrea to accept the Secretary-General's good offices;
"4. *Requests* the Secretary-General to further explore with Ethiopia and
Eritrea the possibility of a United Nations presence in Ethiopia and Eritrea
in the context of the maintenance of international peace and security;
"5. *Requests* the Secretary-General to keep the Council regularly
informed ofthe situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea and to make
recommendations as appropriate;
"6. *Decides* to remain actively seized of the matter."
** *** **
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