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UNSC
Condemns Eritrea's Attack Against Djibouti
13
June 2008, UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council
joined the United States Thursday in condemning Eritrean military
action this week that left nine Djiboutians dead.
A
statement approved by the 15 council members urged both sides to
refrain from a troop buildup and singled out Eritrea to show "maximum
restraint" and withdraw forces from the border along Red Sea
shipping lanes.
The
separate comments from the U.N. and the U.S. State Department came
after fighting between the African neighbors on Tuesday killed nine
Djiboutians and wounded 60 others.
"These
hostilities represent an additional threat to peace and security in
the already volatile Horn of Africa," State Department spokesman
Gonzalo Gallegos said.
The
council called on the nations to resolve their differences "in a
manner consistent with international law."
The
statement read by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who holds this
month's revolving council presidency, also invited peace efforts by
the African Union, the Arab League and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The
U.S. has more than 1,200 troops stationed in Djibouti, where an
anti-terrorism task force for the Horn of Africa is based. France
also has a base in Djibouti, its former colony.
"We
call on all the parties to cooperate, particularly Eritrea, with all
efforts designed to help minimize and reduce tensions on the border,"
Deputy U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said.
"There's
been a pattern of irresponsible, destabilizing behavior by Eritrea in
the past," he told reporters. "This latest incident ... was
launched from the Eritrean side."
Eritrea
dismissed U.S. criticism and charged that the American government was
"currently embroiled in instigating, compounding and inflaming
regional conflicts."
In
a separate statement, the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti also warned
American citizens against traveling near the border with Eritrea.
Djibouti's
foreign minister has said Eritrea has launched a major military
buildup on their border overlooking critical Red Sea shipping lanes.
UNSC Presidential statement 12 June
2008: Archived
Video
http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/sc/2008/sc080612pm.rm
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