UNMEE media briefing: UN commander stands by US Statement
UNMEE media briefing notes 13 May 2004
Source: UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
Date: 13 May 2004
A near verbatim transcript of the press briefing held by the Deputy
Spokesman and Acting Chief of Public Information George Somerwill in Asmara,
via videoconference linking participants in Addis Ababa and Asmara.
POLITICAL
On 6 May, the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG)
Legwaila Joseph Legwaila briefed diplomats in Asmara on recent developments in
the peace process. On the same day, the SRSG received the Head of the Horn of
Africa Section of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Erbs, who
paid a courtesy call on him.
On 7 May, the SRSG travelled to Sector East, where he visited the Sector
Headquarters in Assab and the Kenyan Battalion's (KENBAT's) Observation Posts
at Point 885 and at Kalalahuia. After his visit to Sector East, the SRSG
proceeded to Addis Ababa, where he met with the African Union Commissioner for
Peace and Security, Ambassador Said Djinnit. They exchanged views on the
current situation in the peace process.
In the evening of the same day, the SRSG met with the Special Envoy of the
Foreign Minister of Norway, Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby. The latter briefed the
SRSG on his activities, including his meetings with the Ethiopian authorities
and representatives of the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa.
On 10 May, the SRSG met with diplomats in Addis Ababa and briefed them on
the current situation of the peace process.
In the evening of the same day, the SRSG met with Dr. Tekeda Alemu,
Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, at the latter's request. They
exchanged views on the current status of the peace process.
On 11 May, the SRSG met with His Excellency Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson
of the Commission of the African Union, at the African Union Headquarters in
Addis Ababa. They discussed the stalemate in the peace process and exchanged
views on the way forward.
In a separate development, on 11 May, the new Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, Archbishop
Ramiro Moliner-Ingles, paid a courtesy call on the SRSG. The SRSG briefed him
on the current situation in the peace process. In the afternoon, the SRSG met
with the Ambassadors of Algeria, the United Kingdom and the United States at
the residence of the US Ambassador to Ethiopia, where they exchanged views on
the current situation in the peace process.
On the morning of 12 May the SRSG returned to Asmara.
MILITARY
General Overview
During the past week, UNMEE conducted 771 ground and 10 air reconnaissance
patrols throughout the Area of Responsibility (AOR). The general situation in
the Mission area remains militarily stable. There have been no significant
changes in troop locations or dispositions reported over the past week.
In all sectors, UNMEE peacekeepers continued to provide medical assistance
to local civilians, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), along with
supplies of bulk water to civilian communities in the Temporary Security Zone
(TSZ) and the Adjacent Areas.
Restrictions of Freedom of Movement
The Asmara - Keren - Barentu road continues to remain closed to all UNMEE
vehicular movement, a restriction that continues to considerably hamper UNMEE's
mandated operations.
Mine Action
In Sector Centre, a detachment from the Slovak Engineering Company manually
cleared a total area of 500 square meters along access roads to the border area
near Ksad Eiqa, about 15 kilometres south of Adi Quala. No UXOs were found.
The Kenyan De-mining Engineering Company, working in the Adi Hakin-Mai Hbey
minefield, manually cleared an area of 4,109 square metres. Seven detonators
and two fuses were found and cleared.
The Bangladesh Engineering Company de-mined an area of 14, 000 square metres
along the road Shilalo to Maykokah. The Company also de-mined an area of 4,800
square meters along the road Shambiko to Point 9. Two fuses, one mortar shell
and one anti-tank mine were cleared.
On 6 May, the Mine Action Coordination Centre's Chief of Operations Mr. Dave
Bax visited the training facility of the Kenyan Engineer School in Archers
Post, north of Nairobi (Kenya), where the British Peace Support Team (BPST) is
assisting the Kenyan Army with the training of the next squadron of the Kenyan
de-miners before they deploy to the Mission area. The purpose of the visit was
to ensure that relevant mine action training standards are implemented and
maintained and that the appropriate logistical preparations for the next
rotation of de-miners are in place.
During a preliminary investigation of the mine incident site in Sector East,
a detachment of the MACC commercial route clearance contractor, MECHEM, located
seven anti-tank mines in the area north of Asabuy village inside the Temporary
Security Zone (TSZ), where recently (18 March 2004) a Ministry of Health
ambulance struck an anti-tank mine, killing one person and injuring four
others. In response to this discovery, the MACC Operations Section sent out an
investigation team to survey the area and complete an investigation report. The
investigation found a mined area in the vicinity of the accident site. A
further investigation will be conducted later this month to determine the full
extent of the mine situation in this area. A preliminary investigation report
has been compiled and released.
Meetings And Visits
On 4 May, in Nairobi, the Force Commander discussed with the Kenyan Army
Commander Lieutenant General Zakaria Kianga and the Assistant Chief of Defence
Staff (Operations and Training) the Kenyan Army's contribution to UNMEE and the
current situation in the Mission area.
On 6 May, Sector Centre held a Sector Military Coordination Commission
(SMCC) meeting at Mereb Bridge. During the meeting, which was conducted in a
positive, relaxed and friendly manner, issues relating to local security within
Sector Centre were discussed.
On 7 and 8 May, the Force Commander visited the Kenyan De-mining Squadron at
Archer's Post in Kenya where they are conducting training. The squadron is due
to rotate to the UNMEE Mission area, in two groups, in June and September this
year.
On 10 May, the Force Commander, Major-General Robert Gordon chaired the 24th
Military Coordination Commission (MCC) meeting in Nairobi. The meeting was held
in a tense atmosphere against the background of the recent Eritrean allegations
against UNMEE. The details of this meeting are covered in a separate press
release that was issued on 10 May.
On 10 May, a media delegation from the Directorate of Moral Guidance of the
Jordanian Armed Forces and the Jordanian Television and Radio Institution visited
Company C of the Jordanian Battalion in Om Hajer and was briefed by the Company
Commander.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
The SRSG gave an interview to the BBC's "Focus on Africa" in Addis
Ababa on 8 May. In the interview, the SRSG noted that some of the accusations
(leveled against UNMEE by authorities in Asmara) dealt with events that had
happened almost three years ago. The SRSG also gave an interview to the
"Voice of America" in Addis Ababa on 10 May, in which he commented
that while UNMEE staff are not angels, whenever there is a breach of discipline
the UN investigates it and, when necessary, punishes the perpetrators. In the
light of this, he noted that some of the allegations made against UNMEE by the
Eritrean Government had already led to disciplinary action against the
peacekeepers involved, and promised that other allegations would be formally
investigated.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question (Asmara): This Reuters report that came out from America
about them commenting about Ethiopian intrusions into the TSZ, incursions, do
you know what they are talking about?
Force Commander: The Secretary-General's recent report brought out
this issue, that over the period of the last report, there had been a number of
allegedly inadvertent incursions by the Ethiopian side into the Temporary
Security Zone (TSZ). Now these incursions are not uncommon. They are often for
a variety of reasons; for collecting cattle, for inadvertent wandering into an
area where the Southern Boundary of the TSZ is not clear. We are fairly satisfied
that none of this is deliberate and when we return the people, the Ethiopian
authorities say that they will try and stop it happening. But of course we are
talking about a very large border area, we are talking about peoples living
along these border areas and a border that is not particularly well defined.
When we get excited is when we have members, crossing into the TSZ, in the
uniforms of the Ethiopian militia or regular forces. There have been occasions
of this in the last year, and where we find them, we stop the individuals and
turn them back and escort them back to their correct side of the border,
normally with an explanation from the Ethiopian authorities as to how it
happened. I think the point is that each one of these incursions, whether
accidental or not, is potentially destabilizing and I think what the American
State Department was trying to do was to urge Ethiopia, recognizing that it
does happen, to try and ensure that it does not happen.
Question (Asmara): Have there been any recent incidents, which have
sparked shooting?
Force Commander: There was an incident, which we reported last week.
The issue there was that the Eritrean authorities told us that their militia
had apprehended an Ethiopian and that there had been firing between the militia
and the Ethiopians who had gone into the border area, into the Temporary
Security Zone, and they had wounded and captured one of these Ethiopians who
turned out to be a Lieutenant in the Ethiopian army. But the Ethiopian
Government has been very quick to disassociate (itself) from him, saying that
he was on leave and his activities, as far as they were concerned, were
illegal.
Question (Addis Ababa): I apologize if all this has been addressed in
past briefings, but I am trying to get up to speed. I had heard reports that
there are new armaments coming to the Eritrean army, and I am wondering if they
are visible in the region and if you have seen any sign of that?
Force Commander: The United Nations mandated mission area is a very
narrow area. Effectively it is the Temporary Security Zone, which is wholly in
Eritrea and then the 15 kilometers either side of that TSZ, in the South that's
in Ethiopia and the North that is also in Eritrea. That is where we are
mandated to monitor and as far as we can tell we have seen no new armaments in
that mandated area. There are hearsay reports, and these reports come from all
sorts of organizations including obviously yours (NPR), that say that there are
new weapons that are being purchased by both sides in this process. Now, it's
the business of sovereign governments to improve and update their defence, and
so the UN has no particular view on that, except recognizing as a soldier
myself, that this is the business of armies to make sure that their equipment is
as up- to- date as the economy can afford. That is the issue, can the economies
of these two countries afford new weapons?
Question (Asmara): I would like to know UNMEE's side of the story regarding
this Eritrean called a fugitive by the Eritrean authorities who crossed the
border in helicopter?
Spokeswoman: At the moment that particular incident is being
investigated. There is a Board Of Inquiry trying to get the details on that. We
usually do not like to comment while a Board Of Inquiry is going on because we
don't have all the facts and then all we can give you it's what we have at the
time. We know the incident did happen and it is alleged that this person once
worked for UNMEE. All the other details we do not have as yet and the Board Of
Inquiry is looking into it. They have been tasked with doing it as quickly as
possible. We hope that we will have all those details earlier in next week and
possibly by the next briefing we will be able to answer that more clearly.
Question (Asmara): So you don't as yet reject what the Eritrean
authorities are saying about it?
Spokeswoman: Well, we do reject the fact that it sounds as if we
collaborated in taking someone across the border. The last incident we had of
this was in 2003 and we did put in effect a number of changes to improve our
security system at the airport, to improve things like our movement of
personnel forms, in the sense of making sure that when you sign it, anybody who
signs knows precisely what they are signing and we have made sure too that
there are better checks and balances put in place. This new incident of course
must cause us some pause, but it does seem to me, by reading what I did read
and by talking to others who are here, (the Spokeswoman was out of the Mission
at the time of the incident) that this person obviously had disguised himself
and misrepresented himself as well, so as I said I don't want to comment on
that any more that I have because the facts are not well known at this point in
time. Force Commander would you like to add anything to this since you were
here I was not.
Force Commander: I think that we can, without prejudicing a Board Of
Inquiry, say that we do believe rather than allege, that this individual was a
former employee of UNMEE, but hadn't been at work since December. Nevertheless,
he had retained a slightly out-of-date UN I.D. card. This individual was
determined, for personal career reasons, to get out of Eritrea and we
understand to pursue a career elsewhere, and therefore he used a degree of
guile and bluff to get himself onto a helicopter which he shouldn't have got on
to.
Question (Asmara): Do we have the name of this person?
Force Commander: Yes we do, but I am not sure I want to share it with
the media. I think it would be unfair and may prejudice any investigation. I
should say we are cooperating fully and being as transparent in this process as
we possibly can with both the concerned parties, which is Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Spokeswoman: They have both been informed.
Question (Addis Ababa): Well, my question goes to (the) General.
General, I know that you are a career soldier, I don't want you to give me a
diplomatic answer, but I want you to give me as a soldier, what do we mean by
provocation and incursion? When do you define provocation and incursion?
Force Commander: I am not quite sure about the point you are making.
I can define an incursion. An incursion is people going where they should not
go and should know that they should not go. A provocative incursion is a
deliberate incursion rather than an inadvertent incursion. Is that answering
your question? I am not quite clear what is the point you are trying to make. I
will be frank with you if you make it clear what you are asking.
Question (Addis Ababa): Well, what I am asking is as a soldier, when
you define or when you say there is a provocation or incursion in a certain
area where it is not allowed to do so, when do you define this as a
provocation? For example, let me give you an example. Someone has come to my
house and stolen something. I follow him even if I am not allowed to follow
him. So is that a provocation?
Force Commander: I am not going to get into a tennis match between
the various media representing Ethiopia and Eritrea here. I am quite clear as a
soldier that both Parties know that they should not wander into each other's
territory. Now frankly a hot pursuit into someone else's territory, that's (the
meaning of) "following," is actually an incursion and I would expect
both Parties on either side of the Southern Boundary of the TSZ to understand
the sensitivity of that Southern Boundary and understand and have the
discipline needed to stop such activities, which inevitably lead to a rise in
tension and potential instability. So we are in a difficult situation at the
moment. We are all frustrated by the absence of demarcation and it is at this
time-- and this is something I mentioned in the MCC,-- that I do call upon the
military, because that is all I can call upon, the military of both Parties, to
adhere as much as they can to their own agreements.
Question (Asmara): Looking at the statement from last week from the
Eritrean authorities, there was a long list of indiscretions, which were
alleged against UNMEE and UNMEE employees. In the UNMEE's response it didn't
categorically deny any of these allegations. Do you deny any of these
allegations?
Spokeswoman: I would say that at the moment we are looking into
making a list of all the allegations and what we have done with each of them.
What I do know is that every single allegation that has been brought to our
attention has been investigated.
Question (Asmara): Have the Eritrean authorities provided you with
any more details about some of these allegations?
Spokeswoman: As you know we have just been meeting with the
Commissioner for Coordination with the Peacekeeping Mission trying to clarify
our position and theirs and some of these issues have been clarified on both
sides.
Question (Asmara): Can you give us more details about that?
Spokeswoman: No I can't because I think that conversation is ongoing.
Another thing we should make clear, we do not wish this to deteriorate into a
position where Eritrea makes accusations and we make counter-accusations and
the whole debate is carried out in public. I think the SRSG is very concerned
about that, specifically as it effects our relations with the people of Eritrea
because we have had a very warm reception from the time we came here. We would
like to keep that relationship the way it is and therefore we are working very
hard to ensure that is maintained. On the other hand we are not going to simply
have accusations, very serious accusations made where we are called
"beasts in blue berets" for example and not take that seriously. We
have to take that very seriously and we are doing so. We have always had a code
of conduct-- I think I have said this many times-- that we have a very strict
code of conduct which all UNMEE Staff Members, if they are not aware, certainly
would be aware now because the Force Commander has reinforced this by sending
new directives to the Force, the SRSG has also done the same through the
Administration here, so that people are very aware that we need to be very
careful about our behavior, that we need to always respect (the culture and
traditions) of both countries in which we are guests. I think we are very aware
as peacekeepers of our role here. What we have said on many occasions is that
there are almost 5,000 of us here and there will be one or two who misbehave,
but that misbehavior will be dealt with. It has been dealt with in the past 2 ½
years. And as I said, everyone (that is allegation of misconduct) has been
investigated. When the investigation has not done by us, it has done by the
troop contributing countries themselves and action has been taken.
Question (Asmara): Did you ask Commissioner Abrahaley why if he
believed that UNMEE was endangering the peace and stability of the region, why
doesn't he ask you to leave?
Spokeswoman: We did not ask him that but I know it was discussed at
the MCC. Perhaps the Force Commander can tell you more about that exchange.
Force Commander: I think ultimately Commissioner Abrahaley's position
is that when he says "endangering the peace of Eritrea and its people, and
the stability," he's referring to our policy of employment of national
staff. And this is an ongoing issue between the United Nations and the
Government of Eritrea, which I don't particularly want to comment upon at this
stage, but I think the Eritrean position is they want a closer scrutiny of
those Eritrean staff that we employ.
Just to put more emphasis on what Gail has said: the allegations were fairly
"broad brush" varying from us going to Nakfa as tourists to then
quite specific allegations of gross impropriety. I think what dismayed us at
the time was that these allegations are spread over a period of three years.
Now in this period, over 23,000 peacekeepers from every corner of this globe
have been in this mission. And I do confess that not everyone of them is a
saint. But that is the nature, not only of soldiering but also of peacekeeping.
We get what we get and what we have to do is set out very clear guidelines
about the behavior that is expected of our peacekeepers, and when those
guidelines are not met, and when there is sufficient evidence, we take
disciplinary action. You should be aware that the maximum disciplinary action I
can take is to repatriate a soldier and then his national contingent deals with
it. And of course national contingents deal with it in increasingly draconian
and different ways. But that is the measure of our intent, that we do not
tolerate bad behaviour, when it is brought to our attention, and when there is
evidence-- because we have to work on evidence here--we will deal. And
therefore, that is why we were dismayed to hear these allegations, against a
record, which I believe is quite a good record. Now I've been to a number of UN
missions and I should say - and I'm prepared to be quoted on this - that this
is the best disciplined and the best-behaved mission of the United Nations that
I have ever been on.
Question (Addis Ababa): In the briefing you mentioned that there have
been no significant changes in troop locations. I gather that there has been
some changes in troop locations. Where did this happen?
Spokeswoman: You have us confused. What we tell you in our briefing
is based on our military reports, which come in from the ground. You're telling
us you have new information? Is that what you're saying?
Question (Addis Ababa): When you say "no significant" that
means there have been insignificant changes? Which are these and where did they
happen?
Spokeswoman: I think that's just a play on words. We will let you
know if (and when) there is significant change…it's a phrase that we have used.
I think that if you look back ten press briefings before, you'll see that
weekly this is the manner in which the Force tells us that there are no changes
on the ground.
Question (Asmara): Specifically, I heard reports there were tank
movements in the eastern sector on the Ethiopian side. Do you have any
information regarding that?
Spokeswoman: Not from the Military. Force Commander?
Force Commander: No!
Spokeswoman: We have not had any confirmation of that.
Question ( Asmara): Do you regard any of these allegations against
UNMEE as ludicrous?
Spokeswoman: I think any allegation which cannot be proved, I
wouldn't go so far as to describe it as ludicrous, but it is damaging because
if we are accused, for example, of pedophilia and there's never been any
evidence, then we would have some concern about that because it stains the name
of every peacekeeper here. Not just the military, but the civilians as well.
We're all tarnished by that. Obviously, our real concern is how this appears to
the people with whom we interact because our soldiers, many of them are in team
sites way outside of Asmara. And when people read this, and they believe it and
they act on it, then it puts us in a very difficult and dangerous position. And
that is our concern. We are here to keep the peace and to help people. We don't
want to be put in a position where people are angry at us because they see us
as "beasts in blue berets". Nobody wants to be considered that way.
Question ( Asmara): Do you regard the toilet paper accusation as
ludicrous?
Spokeswoman: As I said, we do not want to go to the point of
denigrating anybody's concerns. The Commissioner has said these are concerns
that have been raised with him and therefore we need to take those concerns seriously.
We have said to our people very clearly that we would like to ensure that they
respect the customs and norms, including the currency of Eritrea and Ethiopia.
It is something we are looking into very seriously to find out whether this has
indeed happened. But so far we have had no proof that this has happened.
Question (Addis Ababa): Can you give us a sense of over the past
three years of the number of investigations that have been carried out and that
are ongoing?
Spokeswoman: That is something that we ourselves are checking into at
this point to see the number that have been carried out. At the moment I cannot
give you a number but it is something that probably by next week I will have
for you because it is something we ourselves are checking into. What we can
assure you is that most of these allegations are two and half years old. That
we can assure you.
Question (Asmara): Thinking about the sort of fall out now from the
row between the Eritrean Government and you guys, have you received any assurances
that they are not going to make more allegations of this nature or publicly go
forward and say things against UNMEE ?
Spokeswoman: Well I think the fact that we are still meeting and
talking and we have made our own position clear, that we do not wish to have
(debate) carried out in the press, that we have traditionally enjoyed very good
relations especially with the Commissioner for Coordination with the
Peacekeeping Mission and we would like that to continue. We have always, when
things have happened (in the past) and he (the Commissioner) has raised
concerns, the SRSG and the Force Commander, both have gone to speak with him
and we have resolved things very quietly, not in the press. We would like to
continue to do so and I think we feel at certain comfort level that we have
made that clear. I think the Commissioner has also made clear his own position
that his concern was for the public and that the public should be aware of
their own rights and our hope is that perhaps by clarifying the matter that we
will leave it there and that things will improve.
Question (Addis Ababa): Now Gail, the SRSG, while speaking to the
BBC's Focus on Africa said that the allegations being leveled against UNMEE
happened three years ago and that some of the people who were involved had
already been disciplined. Does this mean that the allegations of pedophilia as
well as the misuse of the national currency of Eritrea happened three years ago
and people were disciplined for it?
Spokeswoman: What the SRSG was saying is that many of the incidents
happened within the three year period, investigations were carried out and
where there was evidence, as the Force Commander stressed because I think it is
important to understand that where there is evidence, where we have been able
to prove that the allegations are true, we have taken action. As the Force
Commander mentioned there have been people repatriated for behavior unbecoming
of a UN staff member and a member of the UNMEE Force.
Q [ Addis Ababa]: I want to know what they have been repatriated for,
all the crimes they have committed, are these what the Eritrean Government is
raising at the moment?
Spokeswoman: I think the SRSG's words were many of them are true and
I think that is the difference; not all of them are so, but many are. You
mentioned pedophilia for example; we have never had the incident of pedophilia
proved in this Mission.
Question (Asmara): There were allegations last year though?
Spokeswoman: We have had allegations made of sexual (misconduct) with
underage commercial sex workers. But pedophilia has never been proven, never.
We have never had any evidence of that.
Q [Addis Ababa]: At the meeting in Nairobi three days ago there was a
recommitment from both sides to keep the UN Mission in place. I am wondering
you said there has been no troop movement since then; but has there been any
change on the ground specifically in relation to areas that you have not access
to, before?
Force Commander: No
Q [ Addis Ababa]: General, I had reason to ask you to define for me
provocation in the first place. Luckily I had been in the area from the eastern
sector to the west for the last 45 days. I have seen such incidents like
kidnapping, cattle rustling, someone chasing the other one; but why is this
particular incident so hot, and even went up to the United States, State
Department? What is the particularity of this?
Force Commander: I am UNMEE's Force Commander and I do have an
ability to talk about issues relevant to my Force. I am not a spokesman for the
US State Department.
Q [ Addis Ababa]: I am not saying that. The State Department's
statement came only after you people in UNMEE had reported the incident. So the
State Department doesn't have any representative or an ambassador or a
counselor in the area. They got the report from UNMEE. Why has this particular
incident become so hot while it is a daily occurrence? In my 45 days experience
from the eastern sector right to the western sector I traveled by car, on mule
and on horse, and I have seen these incidents day in and day out. And somewhat
this way or that way they are settled. But this particular incident is given a
prominence. Why is that? I am not asking you to answer me on behalf of the
United States.
Force Commander: The United States State Department works from the
Secretary General's report. I do not, we do not report to the United States
State Department. We report to the DPKO in the United Nations who produce a
report for the benefit of the Security Council. I imagine the State Department,
as the United States is a permanent member of the Security Council, will call
upon the information that is discussed within the Security Council. It is not
up to me to say why they have focused on this particular issue. It is up to me
to say that these incidents of incursions by the Ethiopian side into the
Temporary Security Zone have happened and we have dealt with them on a
case-by-case basis with the Ethiopian authorities.
Question (Asmara): I would like to ask the Force Commander in the
light of his meeting today with Commissioner Abrahaley and the fact he has just
been at the MCC in Nairobi, how difficult and damaged are relations with
Eritrea following on from all these allegations?
Force Commander: Well I think our main effort should now be to try
and get on with what the issue is all about and the issue is about getting on
with demarcation and trying to create the conditions-- and that is all what we
can do as the UN here-- to allow that demarcation process to go forward. I was
dismayed at the MCC, and I remain dismayed at the moment, that this issue is
being clouded by these allegations. Allegations, which we feel, were unjust and
therefore unfair and which really were not appropriate to be put into the
public media. So what we are now concerned to do is to get back onto the level
plain of good relations with Eritrea with the consent to operate of not only
the Eritrean government but the Eritrean people, so that we can do the task
that the peacekeepers here have been sent to do.
Question (Asmara): How convinced are you by Eritrea saying at the MCC
that they reaffirm their commitment to UNMEE being in here and they wanted
UNMEE to be based in Eritrea, considering all the difficulties that you are
having?
Force Commander: I think Commissioner Abrahaley was careful in the
MCC to say that this actually is a decision that is slightly beyond his remit
as the Commissioner and it is really up to the Government of Eritrea in some
public statement to make that commitment.
Question (Asmara): Are you still waiting for them to make that and
are you hoping they will make that?
Force Commander: There is a constant dialogue between various members
of the United Nations, including in New York, with the Government of Eritrea.
And there is also a constant dialogue between those concerned Friends of UNMEE
and the Government of Eritrea. And I think it would be fair to say that I could
summarize that dialogue by saying that Eritrea maintains its position that
there is a role for UNMEE in support of the peace process.
For further enquires please contact:
Gail Bindley-Taylor-Sainte, Spokeswoman and Chief, Public Information Office
Or UNMEE Headquarters Asmara, telephone: 291-1-150411- extension 6017
or our tie-line in New York: 00-1-212-963-3779-Ext 6017
or George Somerwill, Deputy Chief, Public Information Office UNMEE Headquarters
Addis Ababa, telephone: 251-1-726895 extension 7104; Mobile: 251 9 223031.
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