Security Council Condemns Eritrea Over Peacekeepers

16 February 2008

In a statement read by the current president of the UN Security Council, Ricardo Alberto Aria of Panama, following an emergency meeting of the UNSC yesterday afternoon, Friday, 15 Feb 2008, The Security Council strongly condemned the lack of cooperation by the Government of Eritrea with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), and demanded that it end all its restrictions on the Mission, while expressing its determination to consider further appropriate steps for the safety and protection of the Mission and its personnel.

According to a statement read by Ricardo Alberto Aria ( Panama), the Council noted with great concern that, by maintaining restrictions on UNMEE and by refusing to reinstate fuel deliveries to UNMEE, the Government of Eritrea had created a situation in which a temporary relocation of personnel and equipment from Eritrea had been rendered inevitable.

The Council also expressed deep concern about the impediments and logistical constraints put on the Mission in its attempts to organize a temporary relocation and condemned such steps taken by Eritrea. It held Eritrea responsible for the safety and security of the Mission and its personnel.

UNMEE’s mandate had been extended by Council resolution 1798 (2008) of 30 January (see Press Release SC/9237).

The meeting was called to order at 5:50 p.m. and adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

Read full text of UNSC presidential statement at:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sc9250.doc.htm

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