webmaster
© Copyright DEHAI-Eritrea OnLine, 1993-2011
All rights reserved
From: Merhawie (merhawie@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Jul 27 2011 - 14:08:08 EDT
http://whatsinblue.org/2011/07/somaliaeritrea-sanctions-regime.php?page=all&print=true
Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Regime
The Council is expected to adopt a resolution by the end of this week
renewing the mandate of the Somalia Monitoring Group for a further 12
months.
The foreign minister of Eritrea was in New York over the past week making
representations seeking the lifting of sanctions on Eritrea. He met with the
Secretary-General and on Friday 22 July he met the Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions
Committee.
Ethiopia also requested a meeting with the Sanctions Committee and this
meeting is currently scheduled for today.
Eritrea’s case seems to have been raised at a bad time. It is understood
that the latest report of the Somalia Monitoring Group includes information
seriously critical of Eritrea and perhaps related to assistance going to the
Al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia and to other security problems in the
region. It is thought that the Sanctions Committee will be taking up the
recommendations of the Monitoring Group in early August.
The Monitoring Group report is expected to be released publicly after it has
been translated. (It is apparently close to 500 pages in length, so
translation is taking some time).
Council members are now better informed about the best approach to take on
the Somalia/Eritrea sanctions regime, particularly in light of the meetings
with Eritrea and Ethiopia. Heavy sanctions are already in place against
Eritrea. There is recognition of the need to avoid additional sanctions that
might adversely impact ordinary Eritreans. This is particularly sensitive
given the drought conditions in the Horn of Africa. Council members also
seem aware that given the sensitive relationship between Eritrea and
Ethiopia, they do not want to take actions that add further complications to
the relationship. But the Monitoring Group report has had a major impact and
the willingness to consider further measures against Eritrea seems quite
high. *Many Council members seem to be looking to the African members of the
Council for leadership.*
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----