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Security Council
urges Eritrea to ‘immediately withdraw’ troops from zone with
Ethiopia
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Council President
Council President Kenzo Oshima |
17 October 2006 –
Expressing deep concern over reports that Eritrea has moved
around 1,500 troops and 15 tanks into the Temporary Security
Zone with Ethiopia, the United Nations Security Council today
called for them to be withdrawn and urged both sides to exercise
restraint in their long-standing border dispute that erupted
into a two-year war in 1998.
“Members… call on Eritrea to immediately withdraw its troops
from the Temporary Security Zone, to extend its full and
unconditional cooperation to the United Nations Mission in
Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), particularly to maintain ceasefire
arrangements in place, and to immediately lift the restrictions
imposed on UNMEE,” Council President for October, Ambassador
Kenzo Oshima of Japan,
told reporters.
“Members of the Security Council call on both parties to show
maximum restraint and to refrain from any threat or use of force
against each other, to avoid any action which may lead to an
escalation of the tension between the two countries, and to
adhere to previous commitments they have made.”
Echoing concerns raised by Secretary-General Kofi Annan
yesterday, the Council warned that the incursion is contrary to
the agreement on cessation of hostilities of 18 June 2000, and
it also violates the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone.
“Members of the Council once again reaffirm the integrity of
the Temporary Security Zone and their unwavering commitment to
the peace process, including in the full and expeditious
implementation of the Algiers Agreements and implementation of
the final and binding decision of the EEBC (Eritrea-Ethiopia
Boundary Commission).”
The Council also called on Ethiopia to implement fully the
EEBC decision demarcating the boundary.
In his latest report on the conflict, Mr. Annan repeated
concerns that Ethiopia had not accepted the Commission’s
decisions, and that Eritrea refused to continue to cooperate
with the body. Last year Eritrea restricted UNMEE’s use of
helicopters, impeding its ability to monitor 50 to 55 per cent
of the area on the Eritrean side within the Temporary Security
Zone. |
