From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Tue Jul 20 2010 - 14:18:28 EDT
20 July 2010
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/unlogo_blue_sml_en.jpg
Security Council
SC/9987
_____
Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York
Security Council
6362nd Meeting (AM)*
Under-Secretary-General, Briefing Security Council, Commends Recent Steps
by Eritrea, Djibouti to Negotiate Settlement of 2008 Border Dispute
Qatar Wins Praise for Mediating Role between Horn of Africa Neighbours
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe today commended
recent steps by the Governments of Eritrea and Djibouti to negotiate a
settlement, with Qatar acting as mediator, to the border dispute between
them, which erupted into conflict in March 2008.
"The Government of Qatar has confirmed to us that cooperation between both
countries and the Qatari forces is good, and that the Qatari forces will
remain deployed in both countries until the dispute between them has been
settled," Mr. Pascoe said in a briefing to the Security Council. The two
Horn of Africa countries had signed an agreement on 6 June, allowing Qatar
to create a mechanism to facilitate boundary demarcation by an international
company, monitor the border and address the issue of prisoners of war and
missing persons.
He said the Secretary-General had received notification from the Prime
Minister of Qatar that, by 5 June, Eritrean troops had withdrawn from Ras
Doumeira and Doumeira Island and the de-facto border area, and that Qatari
troops had deployed military observers - including a company unit in Eritrea
and a platoon unit in Djibouti - pending a final settlement.
Mr. Pascoe said that the Secretary-General, responding to a 24 June letter
from President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, had reaffirmed his commitment to
discuss with him regional challenges, notably the border dispute's negative
effect on regional stability and the lack of implementation of the ruling by
the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission.
All States in the region, in addition to the African Union, the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations,
must work together in tackling regional conflict, the
Under-Secretary-General stressed. He further urged all States and other
involved parties to facilitate the work of the newly established Monitoring
Group on Somalia and Eritrea, charged with reporting on Eritrea's compliance
with resolution 1907 (2009) and other relevant Council texts.
Eritrea's representative commended the Secretary-General for pointing out
the need to resolve the dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which, he
stressed, had been peacefully, legally and technically concluded by the
Boundary Commission but not yet implemented, impeding resolution of the
region's problems. He maintained that, for the past eight years, the
Council had not addressed Ethiopia's defiance of the Boundary Commission's
decision or that country's arming, training, hosting and financing of armed
Eritrean elements with the objective of destabilizing his country. He urged
the Council to assume its Charter responsibilities and ensure the withdrawal
of Ethiopia's troops from sovereign Eritrean territories.
On Somalia, he noted his country's recent participation in the Istanbul
Conference as part of its efforts to seek a sustainable peace in the
strife-torn neighbouring State. There could be no military solution to the
conflict there and an inclusive, Somali-driven political process could be
the only real prospect for a lasting resolution. Eritrea would continue to
be part of a sustained and constructive effort to achieve peace and
stability in Somalia, he pledged.
Turning to Djibouti, he said the agreement signed under the leadership of
Qatar was a "significant development". Ever since the matter had been
brought to the Council's attention, Eritrea had exercised restraint and
opted to address the issue in a calm manner, preferably at the bilateral
level or through a third party, in a manner acceptable to the two "sister
countries".
He went on to state that resolution 1907 (2009) had been "unjustly and
selectively" imposed on his country, adding that it lumped unrelated issues
together. However, Eritrea would remain committed to regional peace and
security, which it took as a priority. In light of recent developments, he
appealed to the Council to lift the sanctions imposed on his country.
Finally, he expressed grief over the recent bombings in Kampala, Uganda,
which had taken the lives of Eritreans, among many others.
Djibouti's representative said firm Council action had clearly contributed
to progress in the situation between her own country and Eritrea following
the latter's aggression and denials of the existence of a conflict. While
expressing hope that the Qatar mediation would lead to a peaceful and
lasting resolution of the problem, she stressed that the road ahead was
still difficult and would require the commitment of all stakeholders. The
issues of prisoners, missing persons and border demarcation were among the
important issues to be resolved.
She expressed further hope that the next report of the Secretary-General
would show progress in all those areas as well as adequate movement towards
a lasting resolution. Djibouti remained committed to peace in the region
and the world at large, she pledged, also expressing condolences to those
affected by the Kampala bombings.
The meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 10:35 a.m.
Background
The Security Council had before it the Report of the Secretary-General on
Eritrea (document S/2010/327), covering developments in the country since
the Council's adoption of resolution 1907 (2009), which imposed a regime of
targeted sanctions on the country for failing to comply with resolution 1862
(2009), on its border dispute between Djibouti, and for its destabilizing
role in the Somalia conflict.
According to the report, Eritrea has maintained that the sanctions were
based on unfounded allegations, and has denied the existence of a border
dispute with Djibouti. However, the Eritrean Government's recent steps
towards constructive engagement with its neighbours and the international
community - its reception of the Sanctions Committee in Asmara, its
participation in the Istanbul Conference on Somalia, endorsement of the
Istanbul Declaration and engagement in Qatar-led regional mediation efforts
- are "encouraging developments", the report says.
"While recent developments represent a move in the right direction, I urge
the Government of Eritrea to do more to provide evidence of its compliance
with resolution 1907 (2009) and the practical measures set out in it," the
Secretary-General says. He recalls that on 8 June 2010, he received a
letter from Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
transmitting a copy of an agreement (contained in document
A/64/806-S/2010/291) signed by the Presidents of Eritrea and Djibouti with
the aim of resolving the border dispute, and with Qatar serving as mediator.
The report goes on to state that on the same day, Djibouti's Minister for
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed the withdrawal of
Eritrean troops from Djiboutian territory thanks to Qatar's mediation
efforts and its deployment of an observation force to monitor the
Eritrea-Djibouti border until a final agreement is reached. The following
day, the Government of Eritrea submitted a letter in response to the note
verbale on resolution 1907 (2009), which refers to the agreement.
However, the Secretary-General notes the "very limited" ability of the
United Nations to verify Eritrea's compliance with resolution 1907 (2009),
and expresses hope that the new Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea will
provide independent monitoring and reporting on its implementation. The
text requires Member States to report to the Council within 120 days on
steps taken to implement its provisions. As of 10 June 2010, 26 Member
States had provided that information, which was circulated to the Council
Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning
Somalia and Eritrea.
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