|
UN
mission to relocate unless Eritrea lifts fuel restrictions in next 2
days
4 February 2008(United Nations) – Given the
critical fuel levels impeding the work of the United Nations Mission
in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has
said the mission will start relocating from Eritrea if that country’s
Government does not lift its restrictions by Wednesday.
In a letter sent to the Security Council last Friday,
Mr. Ban pointed out that the Mission’s fuel stocks will run out
in the coming few days, leaving only the strategic reserves, which
are intended exclusively for emergency evacuation purposes.
The Secretary-General said that if the Eritrean
authorities do not reinstate the fuel supplies by 6 February, he will
be compelled to instruct UNMEE to begin relocating the mission
personnel and equipment from Eritrea, to avoid a total immobilization
of the Mission and endangering the safety and security of UN
personnel.
UNMEE, which has been monitoring the 2000 ceasefire that
ended the border war between the two countries, has not been able to
obtain fresh supplies of fuel in Eritrea since 1 December last year,
according to the acting head of the Mission.
“These restrictions are paralyzing the mission and
its movements and making the living conditions of our civilian and
military staff on the ground extremely difficult,” Azouz
Ennifar said just over a week ago.
Last week, as it extended the Mission’s mandate
for a further six months, the Council demanded that the Eritrean
Government “resumes immediately fuel shipments to UNMEE or
allows UNMEE to import fuel without restrictions.”
The 15-member body today once again voiced its concern
about the fact that the fuel restrictions have not yet been lifted.
In a statement
read out to the press by Ambassador Ricardo Alberto Arias of Panama,
which holds the rotating presidency this month, the Council
reiterated its demand that Eritrea “forthwith and without
preconditions lifts its restrictions on fuel deliveries so that UNMEE
be in a position to execute its extended mandate.”
The Council also requested Eritrea to facilitate a UN
technical assessment mission which is due to depart for the region
tomorrow.
Back
Home
| 
