From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Wed Oct 22 2008 - 17:53:57 EDT
Source: United Nations Security Council
Date: 23 Oct 2008
President of Djibouti urges Security Council to press Eritrea on ending
border dispute, says 'the last thing the Horn of Africa needs is another
conflict'
SC/9480
Security Council
6000th Meeting (AM)
Eritrea 's Representative Vows Openness to Solve Any 'Real or Perceived
Problems', But Says Country Will Not Be Dragged into 'Fabricated
Conflict'
Speakers in the Security Council this morning called for the peaceful
settlement of the border dispute between Eritrea and Djibouti, after
they heard the President of Djibouti and the representative of Eritrea
present their respective views on the crisis, which flared into deadly
fighting this past 10 June.
As the Council began its 6000th meeting today, President Ismail Omar
Guelleh, whose country requested the session, invited the Council to
call on Eritrea to meet its international obligations, following the
"sudden, inexplicable and ill-thought out occupation" of parts of his
country and the subsequent condemnation by the 15-member body. He
maintained that conclusions of the Council's fact-finding mission to
Djibouti had clearly shown the irresponsible behaviour of the Eritrean
authorities, which had refused to cooperate with the United Nations.
Djibouti's priority, he said, was demilitarization of the area and the
re-establishment of mutual trust by reactivating existing bilateral
mechanisms or by creating an arbitration mechanism to demarcate the
border. He argued that Djibouti had reacted with calm that created space
to solve the problem peacefully, but that all efforts in that regard had
been in vain, as Eritrea merely continued to reinforce its troops and
had refused to negotiate.
There was now no other choice but to mass troops at the border and
defend the territory, he said. The good offices of the African Union,
the Organization of the Islamic Conference and of the United Nations
were being sought to resolve the dispute. His country was determined to
recover the entirety of its territory, including Ras Doumeira and
Doumeira Island. Djibouti's forces had been withdrawn to their earlier
positions in response to the Council's presidential statement.
"The last thing the Horn of Africa needs is another conflict," he said,
adding that the Eritrean people did not want another conflict with
Djibouti and were aware of that country's friendship. He urged the
Council to call on the two countries to devote themselves for a period
of three weeks to solve the crisis. Any failure to apply that decision
should give rise to sanctions by the Council.
Eritrea's representative said that his country had already addressed
Djibouti's "unwarranted statements without any concrete evidence" at the
Council's meeting on the same issue in June. There were no new
developments since the brief incident that month that had been
instigated by the unprovoked attack unleashed by Djibouti against
Eritrean units inside its own territory.
He went on to say that, despite the "negative campaigns", Eritrea had
exercised restraint and had not taken any land that belonged to
Djibouti. Conceding that it did not concern the issue at hand, he then
described Ethiopian military construction along its border and reminded
the Council that Ethiopia continued to occupy sovereign Eritrean
territories in violation of the United Nations Charter and the Algiers
Peace Agreement.
As far as "this manufactured problem with Djibouti was concerned", he
said Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki had already called President
Guelleh about the issue, when Eritrea was approached by the Emir of
Qatar, and showed openness to solve any real or perceived problem. His
country's desire remained the restoration of good neighbourly relations
with Djibouti on the basis of each other's full respect of territorial
integrity and sovereignty. "However, Eritrea will not allow itself to be
dragged into and invited to engage in a diversionary and fabricated
conflict," he said.
Following the presentations of the two countries, representatives of all
Council delegations took the floor to urge dialogue leading to peaceful
adjudication of the border issue. Most speakers supported further
efforts at mediation through the African Union and the Arab League,
which had attempted to facilitate that dialogue, along with the use of
the Secretary-General's good offices. Some called on both parties
equally to exercise utmost restraint and to cooperate with such
mediation efforts. Others, however, addressed Eritrea more forcefully,
urging it to withdraw its forces, cooperate with the United Nations and
regional organizations and comply with the 12 June presidential
statement.
France's representative said that Eritrean authorities must recognize
that there was a crisis in Doumeira, and he hoped the country would
finally resume dialogue with the international community. The situation
presented a serious threat to Djibouti and the region as a whole, and
France intended to comply with all obligations that linked it to
Djibouti.
He proposed urgent consultations to draft a Council text that would,
among other things, reiterate its demands that Eritrea withdraw its
forces to previous positions and to encourage the efforts of the African
Union Presidency and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Those
demands should be accompanied by a clear timeline, he said.
The representatives of Burkina Faso, Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom,
Indonesia, Russian Federation, South Africa, Croatia, Costa Rica, Viet
Nam, Libya, Panama, United States and China also spoke.
The meeting, which opened at 10:05 a.m., closed at 11:30 a.m.
Background
The Security Council met this morning to hear Ismail Omar Guelleh,
President of Djibouti, in connection with the Djibouti-Eritrea question,
as requested in a note verbale dated 3 October from the Permanent
Mission of Djibouti to the United Nations addressed to the Council's
President (document S/2008/635).
Between 10 and 12 June, serious clashes were reported between the
Djibouti Armed Forces (DAF) and the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) along
the unmarked border between the two countries in an area called
Doumeira. The fighting, which left over 35 dead and dozens wounded,
sparked some internal displacement in Djibouti.
On 12 June, the Security Council issued a presidential statement
(S/PRST/2008/20) expressing its strong concern about incidents along the
frontier between Djibouti and Eritrea, calling on both parties to commit
to a ceasefire and urging Eritrea to withdraw its forces from the area.
(See Press Release SC/9353.)
In that same statement, the Council urged Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
to use his good offices and reach out to both sides. Subsequently, the
Secretary-General directed the Department of Political Affairs to
dispatch a fact-finding mission to the two countries to assess the
political, security and humanitarian situation in the area. Eritrean
authorities, however, refused to issue visas to the United Nations team.
The mission also visited Ethiopia, as that country shared a common
border with both countries and is currently Chair of the
Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD).
The Council had before it a letter dated 11 September from the
Secretary-General to its President conveying the report of the United
Nations fact-finding mission on the Djibouti-Eritrea crisis (document
S/2008/602). The mission visited Addis Ababa from 28 to 31 July and from
4 to 6 August. It visited Djibouti from 1 to 4 August. It describes the
history of the Djibouti-Eritrea border and implications for the status
of Doumeira, and noted that the fact-finding team was able to establish
that there were major divergences of opinion between the two countries
about the border.
The exact position of the land boundary in Ras Doumeira is critical for
establishing whether Eritrea has actually occupied Djibouti territory
since March, as claimed by Djibouti authorities. The position of the
borderline would also be critical if the two States were to negotiate
their maritime boundary on the Red Sea. In 1996, Eritrea made an attempt
to seize control of Ras Doumeira. The ensuing dispute was short-lived
and was resolved through bilateral mechanisms, but the question of the
borderline remained unresolved, the report says.
Among its conclusions, the mission underscores the need for "urgent
political action to end the crisis between Djibouti and Eritrea". It
recommends that the offer of the Secretary-General's good offices to
defuse the tension between the two countries be made an "urgent
priority". Both countries must be made to believe that it is in their
vested interest to have a balanced fact-finding mission, which would
reach conclusions only after hearing from both sides.
It goes on to note that, if Eritrea alleges an invasion by Ethiopia or
aggression by Djibouti, as it has done, then it has an international
obligation to cooperate with the United Nations to establish the facts.
The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs could return to Asmara
in the coming weeks. The grace period for the Eritreans, however, must
not be open-ended. They should be given a specific time frame to issue
the necessary visas. The current situation should not be allowed to
fester.
A major priority for the United Nations and all international actors
should be to persuade the two parties, Eritrea in particular, to
demilitarize the border and return to previous positions as at February
2008. The Djibouti army has pulled back, the report states, and adds
that it is only logical that the Eritrean forces do the same, as was
demanded by the Council. As there was disagreement over the treatment of
EDF deserters who crossed into Djibouti between April and June, the
future of the deserters could serve as a confidence-building measure.
At the same time, the report notes that the existence of several
colonial treaties and protocols, as well as at least three different
maps and borderlines, all indicate that the border could be under
contention. United Nations efforts at resolving the crisis should focus
on providing the two countries with a platform to discuss their common
border and agree on a fair process for demarcation. The Department of
Political Affairs seems best placed to facilitate dialogue between the
two countries on demilitarizing the border and initiating a political
process, which should preferably take place under the leadership of a
special envoy.
Finally, the report states that, hopefully, the authorities in Eritrea
will respond positively and in a timely manner to the offer of the
Secretary-General's good offices. In the event that the offer by the
United Nations is again rebuffed by Eritrea, the matter should be
referred to the Council for appropriate action. "A sovereign country is
being drawn into a crippling and unaffordable military mobilization, to
deal with a situation that may ultimately threaten national, regional
and international peace," the report states, concluding that there is
still some scope for further political engagements, especially with
Eritrea.
Statements
ISMAIL OMAR GUELLEH, President of Djibouti, said Africa was at a
crossroads. A number of countries were making progress against all
forecasts, thanks to better economic management and growing confidence
of international investors. There was unequalled economic growth and the
current crisis might have minimal effects. However, high fuel and food
prices made the situation more complex. Djibouti was a small,
peace-loving and progressive country that had been able to maintain its
stability even amid wars in the region.
The Horn of Africa had had more than its fair share of unhappiness,
dislocation and destruction. The Council might take an in-depth look at
the areas of tension at a regional level, as it had done in West Africa.
Here, he said Somalia, in particular, was in ruins. The conflict there
was not exclusively a Somali affair, and required international and
transparent involvement to determine once and for all the future of the
nation.
Further, international attention to the piracy in Somalia was
legitimate, but everyone should be aware that piracy was a symptom. Half
of the population needed humanitarian aid and suffered from
displacement, drought and unemployment. The East African region was
committed to re-establishment of peace in Somalia and officials from
neighbouring countries were set to meet in Nairobi to address the
forgotten crisis. At the same time, the Security Council had the primary
responsibility to save Somalia from "its decent into nightmare" and to
take the decision that it was time to protect the people. Lack of action
would have serious consequences.
After the "sudden, inexplicable and ill-thought out occupation" of parts
of his country by Eritrea, Djibouti had reacted with calm that created
time to solve the problem peacefully, he said. All efforts in that
regard had been in vain, however, as Eritrean actions continued on the
ground. There was now no other choice than to mass troops at the border
and defend the territory. The good offices of the African Union, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and of the United Nations were
being sought.
Eritrea continued to reinforce its troops, which carried out incursions.
The international efforts had been rejected by Eritrea and that country
continued to provide incorrect and "arrogant" information. Following the
10 June armed conflict which had left dozens of victims, the Council had
condemned the Eritrean actions, he said. The Council had sent a
fact-finding mission to Djibouti, whose clear conclusions reflected the
erratic and irresponsible behaviour of the Eritrean authorities. The
Eritrea authorities had simply alleged interference from abroad.
He said the high point of the mission had been a visit to Doumeira,
where it could see the deployment of the two forces. Given that Eritrea
continued to reject efforts to diffuse the tension, it was becoming
clear that Eritrea did not want to abide by international standards and
obligations. Confronted with a silent aggressor, discussion could not
find place. His country was determined to recover the entirety of its
territory, including Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island. Djibouti's forces
had been withdrawn to the status quo ante in response to the Council's
presidential statement.
He said the inexplicable invasion of Djibouti's territory was totally
unacceptable and the Council must address the conflict in an appropriate
manner. Eritrea continued to ignore appeals by regional bodies and the
Council and the conflict could have a broad effect on the region. "The
last thing the Horn of Africa needs is another conflict," he said,
adding further that the Eritrean people did not want another conflict
with Djibouti and were aware of that country's friendship.
The Eritrean people, however, suffered under bad governance and the
"belligerent attitude" of their leaders. "It is morally reprehensible."
He asked the Council to be very vigilant. Correlation should be
established between the current conflict and the one between Ethiopia
and Eritrea. Those conflicts shared the same element -- namely Eritrea
-- a country that was involved in all conflicts in the Horn of Africa.
He invited the Council to consider that Eritrea, as a Member State, must
be called upon to meet its international obligations and cooperate with
the United Nations and accept its good offices. His country's priority
was demilitarization of the area. The two countries must re-establish
mutual trust by reactivating existing bilateral mechanisms or by an
arbitration mechanism to demarcate the border.
He urged the Council to call upon the two countries to devote themselves
for a period of three weeks to solve the crisis. Any failure to apply
the decision should give rise to sanctions by the Council. Continued
inaction not only would encourage, but also would benefit Eritrea's
attitude, which left no other option than war. The conflict constituted
a financial "black hole", as well as a detraction from his country's
development goals.
ARAYA DESTA ( Eritrea) said that the series of hostile campaigns waged
against his country and the "unwarranted statements without any concrete
evidence" had already been addressed at the Council in June. There were
no new developments since the brief incident that month that had been
instigated by the unprovoked attack unleashed by Djibouti against
Eritrean units inside its own territory. The deliberate design to
unleash a new crisis in the region had fortunately been forestalled.
He went on to say that, despite the "negative campaigns", Eritrea had,
all along, chosen the path of restraint and, contrary to the claims
made, had not taken any land that belonged to Djibouti and did not have
any territorial ambitions. Conceding that it did not concern the issue
at hand, he then described Ethiopian military construction along its
border and reminded the Council that Ethiopia continued to occupy
sovereign Eritrean territories in violation of the United Nations
Charter and the Algiers Peace Agreement.
As far as "this manufactured" problem with Djibouti was concerned, he
said it must be recalled that the two leaders had spoken about the issue
when President Isaias took the initiative to call President Guelleh when
Eritrea was approached by the Emir of Qatar, to which Eritrea showed its
openness to solve any real or perceived problem. His country's desire
remained the restoration of good neighbourly relations with Djibouti on
the basis of each other's full respect of territorial integrity and
sovereignty. "However, Eritrea will not allow itself to be dragged into
and invited to engage in a diversionary and fabricated conflict," he
said.
JEAN-MAURICE RIPERT ( France) said the conflict had entered into a less
tense phase, but the situation was calm. There had been no more fighting
and the armed forces were not in direct contact. That was the result of
Djibouti's actions alone as it had drawn back to the status qua ante.
The Council should not lose sight that the deadly clashes Eritrea was
guilty of continued. Eritrea had been condemned in a presidential
statement and the report of the fact-finding mission had established
that Eritrea had not withdrawn its troops to the status quo ante.
A resolution required that both countries address the issue of border
demarcation, which was a complex issue, as the borders had never been
marked. A solution would require dialogue between parties, but Eritrea
had rejected all dialogue and had not provided visas to the fact-finding
mission. Eritrea, moreover, had refused similar missions of the Arab
League and the African Union and had not responded positively to the
offers of the Secretary-General's good offices.
He said that Eritrean authorities must recognize that there was a crisis
in Doumeira, and he hoped the country would finally resume dialogue with
the international community. He encouraged the African Union to
establish a line of communication. He also hoped the Secretary-General
could formalize his offer of good offices. The situation presented a
serious threat to Djibouti and the region as a whole, and France
intended to comply with all obligations that linked it to Djibouti.
The region, already wracked with strife, had experienced its full share
of conflict. He proposed urgent consultations to draft a Council text
that would, among other things, reiterate its demands that Eritrea
withdraw its forces to previous positions and to encourage the efforts
of the African Union Presidency and the Secretary-General of the United
Nations. Those demands should be accompanied by a clear timeline.
MICHEL KAFANDO (Burkina Faso), noting that this was the second time that
Djibouti appeared before the Council at a high level, showing the extent
to which the Government put its trust in the United Nations. The Horn of
Africa was wracked by too many conflicts and other challenges to suffer
yet another one. He deplored the continuing tension between the two
brotherly countries. The Council had already shown its resolve to remain
involved, including through sending a fact-finding mission.
Unfortunately, that mission had been rejected by one of the parties. The
Council also had sent a clear message in its presidential statement, he
added.
It was clearly incumbent upon the Council to reaffirm to the
international community the guiding principles that could help restore
normalcy in the region: withdrawal of forces to original positions,
demilitarization of the disputed area and commitment of both parties to
refrain from the use of force and the commitment of both States to meet
in negotiations. If one of the parties should refuse dialogue, the
States could go to arbitration or mediation, he concluded.
JAN GRAULS (Belgium), welcoming the moderation and restraint exercised
by Djibouti, said that he shared the concerns over Eritrea's refusal to
negotiate either with Djibouti or with United Nations, African Union or
Arab League mediation. Claiming it had been wronged in its other border
crisis with Ethiopia, Eritrea had, in that case too, decided on the path
of isolation. Eritrea was, however, a Member of the United Nations and
must respect its Charter obligations, he stressed, underlining that the
peaceful resolution of conflicts and the non-use of force was at the
centre of the Organization.
The situation with Djibouti should not be confused with the one that
involved Ethiopia and Eritrea, he said. In the matter under discussion
today, the Council should act to get Eritrea involved in dialogue
leading to a settlement. Four months had already passed since the
Council's presidential statement and the 15-nation body must now do
everything it could to lessen tensions and to achieve normalization
between the two countries.
GIULIO TERZI ( Italy) welcomed the restraint exercised by Djibouti as
well as its cooperation with the Council. However, he expressed regret
that Eritrea had refused to cooperate and continued to obstruct the
efforts of the international community to put in place
confidence-building measures. If that situation persisted, the Council
would be forced to take action. He welcomed the proposals to that effect
made by France's representative. He urged Eritrea to enter into
negotiations with Djibouti to resolve their differences peacefully.
JOHN SAWERS ( United Kingdom) said he understood Djibouti's concerns and
commended that country for its constructive response. He looked to
Eritrea to take an equally cooperative approach. It was regrettable that
Eritrea had rejected the mission sent under the auspices of the good
offices of the Secretary-General. Should Eritrea continue to block
efforts at dialogue, the Council must consider what steps it might take
to break the impasse. The visit by the African Union Chairman to the
region was a positive step. He urged Djibouti and Eritrea to enter into
dialogue, and the Secretary-General to continue with his good offices
efforts. He encouraged others in the region to offer their help in
resolving the dispute.
MARTY M. NATALEGAWA ( Indonesia) said the situation between Djibouti and
Eritrea was a cause of deep concern, and must be resolved peacefully and
as early as possible. He regretted that the fact-finding mission that
visited Djibouti had been unable to go to Eritrea, thus depriving the
Council of an opportunity to hear the views of one key party. Efforts by
the African Union and the League of Arab States, among others, to help
bridge differences should be commended.
The Council's consideration of the issue should both address the tension
itself and support the resolution of underlying causes, including the
border problem, he continued. Notwithstanding the parties' intentions,
the situation could develop in an unanticipated direction, and "take on
a logic of its own" towards wider conflagration. As such, he welcomed
the withdrawal of Djibouti's forces to their original positions, and
Eritrea must do the same. Both sides should begin diplomatic and
judicial approaches to settle the dispute and, in that regard, he
supported efforts by the United Nations and regional organizations.
Resolution of the crisis could not be based on the current situation,
and he urged both countries to determine and demarcate their border as
early as possible. Both sides should see it as in their vital interest
to resolve the border problem peacefully. Recognizing the link between
the tension of the two countries, and broader security in the Horn of
Africa, he also was mindful that any deterioration of the situation
might impact international navigation in the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb
Strait.
KONSTANTIN DOLGOV ( Russian Federation) called on both sides to
undertake a commitment to maintain the ceasefire in their mutual border
area. He called on Eritrea to immediately recall its forces and on both
sides to take diplomatic steps to resolve the issue peacefully in a
manner consistent with the United Nations Charter. He hoped that the
Secretary-General's good offices would be coordinated with regional
efforts to develop mutual trust, and hoped Eritrea would agree with a
good offices mission. He affirmed his readiness to closely follow the
situation, along with other member States of the Council, so that it did
not further destabilize the region.
DUMISANI KUMALO ( South Africa) said that the presence of Djibouti's
President in the Council indicated that the country felt the situation
was very serious. South Africa wished to see the tension along the
border area reduced by a withdrawal of military forces. He regretted
that the fact-finding mission was not able to visit Asmara, because
Eritrea needed to tell its side of the story. Mutual trust must be
developed between the two countries through dialogue and other means,
and the relationship as friendly neighbours must be re-established,
making use of the offers of regional organizations to help. Finally, he
paid tribute to the part that Djibouti had played in trying to find a
solution to the crisis in Somalia.
RONKA VILOVIC ( Croatia) said that, despite the fact that there was now
a relative calm, there was potential that the conflict could flare up
again. The Council's 12 June presidential statement had called on all
parties, in particular on Eritrea, to exercise restraint. The proposal
to send a fact-finding mission was a step in the right direction, but
Eritrea's refusal to accept the Organization's good offices was
regrettable. He hoped that efforts aimed at helping the parties to
deescalate the situation would be accepted by all parties.
JORGE URBINA ( Costa Rica) expressed concern at the lack of willingness
by Eritrea to establish a dialogue with Djibouti, despite calls to that
end by the international community. While recognizing the actions taken
by Djibouti, he said Eritrea's position constituted a disregard of its
obligations and a lack of respect for international law and the
provisions of the Council. Respect for Council decisions was not just an
obligation for countries that felt the contents were in line with their
national intentions. The international community deserved the peace of
mind that countries participating responsibly in the Organization were
seriously attempting to build a better world, he said.
He reiterated his call on both parties to solve their differences
through dialogue and to adhere to international law. The Council should
play an important role in solving the situation. The parties should
settle their differences through arbitration or mediation or take
recourse to higher legal institutions.
LE LUONG MINH ( Viet Nam) said that the dispute, if left unchecked,
could spill over into a regional conflict. He called for maximum
restraint and the withdrawal of Eritrean forces to their original
positions, and for both sides to enter into dialogue on the situation.
He commended the efforts of the Arab League and the African Union, and
encouraged the Secretary-General to utilize his good offices to assist
the two parties to begin dialogue.
ATTIA OMAR MUBARAK ( Libya) said his country was extremely concerned by
the conflict that had broken out between two brother nations,
particularly since it occurred in a region that was experiencing so many
other troubles. It was disappointing that the Council had not been able
to come up with solutions to the region's troubles. Though there was
currently calm, it was of great concern that there had not been
progress. Libya, as a member of the African Union and the Arab League,
called for implementation of resolutions issued by those organizations,
as well as the Organization of the Islamic Conference. It also called
for the use of legal means to resolve the issue once and for all. He
encouraged the use of the Secretary-General's good offices and hoped
that both parties would respond positively to those offices.
ALFREDO SUESCUM ( Panama) expressed the hope that Eritrea would begin
interacting more positively with the international community, saying
that there could then be a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He urged
Eritrea to respond positively to the offers of the good offices of the
Secretary-General and of the African Union. He also asked Eritrea to
fulfil its obligations under international law, to withdraw its troops
to previous positions and to respond positively to mediators.
He said the Council could only act on the basis of facts placed before
it by the parties. If one party did not cooperate, the Council would
have no other choice but to defend the territorial integrity of
Djibouti, as that country, the threatened party, was fulfilling its
obligations under the Charter.
ZALMAY KHALILZAD ( United States), underlining the importance of the
President of Djibouti's participation in the meeting, said his message
was taken seriously. He hoped the Council would respond appropriately.
The United States remained extremely concerned by Eritrea's unprovoked
attack, its refusal to withdraw and to participate in dialogue.
Commending Djibouti for trying to find a solution, he said the
fact-finding mission had documented the extent to which that country had
tried to resolve the crisis.
He said Eritrea had defied the international community by attacking
Djibouti. It had also refused to issue visas to the fact-finding
mission. That Government's failure to even acknowledge the problem was
unacceptable. The Council should take appropriate action to find a
solution to the crisis. The countries had been drawn into a crippling
military mobilization, creating a situation that might threaten peace in
the region.
In line with the recommendations of the fact-finding mission, the United
States called on the Secretary-General to dispatch a high-level envoy.
Eritrea should be given a clear timeframe to accept a mission that was
acceptable to both parties. If Eritrea rebuffed such efforts, the
Council must act appropriately. By failing to do so, the Council would
risk its credibility.
Council President ZHANG YESUI ( China), speaking in his national
capacity, expressed regret over the tense relations between Djibouti and
Eritrea. Restraint and calm were at present the most important paths for
the two sides to pursue, and he called on the two countries to start a
dialogue as soon as possible. He supported mediation efforts of the
Secretary-General, the African Union and the Arab League, and called on
the two sides to cooperate with them.
For information media . not an official record
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