SECRETARY-GENERAL, BRIEFING SECURITY COUNCIL ON ETHIOPIA/ERITREA, SAYS ‘WE MUST GET IT RIGHT,’ STRESSING MISSION’S GREAT PROMISE

Press Release
SG/SM/7628
AFR/273

SECRETARY-GENERAL, BRIEFING SECURITY COUNCIL ON ETHIOPIA/ERITREA, SAYS ‘WE MUST GET IT RIGHT,’ STRESSING MISSION’S GREAT PROMISE

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as he briefed the Security Council on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)in New York on 17 November:

It gives me great pleasure to join you today and to provide you with an update on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This new operation holds great promise for the countries and peoples involved, for Africa and for peacekeeping in general. We must get it right, and I look forward to working closely with you to achieve that goal.

My Special Representative for Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ambassador Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, has now taken up his functions in the mission area. His qualifications are known to you all.

Mr. Legwaila met in Addis Ababa with Prime Minister Meles, Foreign Minister Seyoum and other senior officials, all of whom pledged their support. Yesterday, Ambassador Legwaila arrived in Asmara and plans to have similar contacts with the Government of Eritrea in Asmara. He has also met with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), members of the diplomatic community and various United Nations officials who will be working closely with UNMEE.

In carrying out his assignment, Ambassador Legwaila expects to travel regularly between his two offices in Asmara and Addis Ababa, so as to maintain close contacts with both parties as well as with the OAU. I have also appointed two senior officials as Deputy Special Representatives: Cheikh-Tidiane Gaye and Ian Martin, who will reside full time in Addis and Asmara, respectively. The two deputies will take up their posts shortly.

The military deployment is also proceeding on schedule. The Force Commander, Major General Patric Cammaert of the Netherlands, has assumed his functions in the mission area. As of today, some 120 United Nations military observers have been deployed to the two countries, and the first troops will begin to arrive soon. With the continued cooperation of the two parties, the deployment of UNMEE is expected to be completed by early next year, up to an authorized strength of 4,200 troops, all ranks, including up to 220 military observers. Military teams from several troop contributing countries -- Canada,

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Denmark, Jordan, Kenya, the Netherlands and Slovakia -- have already undertaken reconnaissance missions for their deployments.

Mr. Foreign Minister, you yourself visited the area last week, and I am interested to hear your assessment. I would like to take this opportunity thank the Government of the Netherlands for its generous support of this operation, as well as all other governments who are making contributions.

The situation on the ground appears to have stabilized in recent weeks. But humanitarian conditions in both countries remain a source of serious concern. In Eritrea, there are more than 300,000 internally displaced persons, some of them accommodated in camps and others in host communities or scattered around the country. In Ethiopia, some 350,000 people have been displaced. The most critical obstacle to their safe return and the resumption of normal life is the presence of land mines and unexploded ordnance along the border.

It is, therefore, imperative to ensure early demining and to conduct mine awareness programmes in these areas. UNMEE, for its part, has begun to conduct demining surveys. Both governments have established national commissions for demining. I hope you will give these efforts your full and timely support.

We are continuing consultations with the governments on the status-of- forces agreements, and hope to conclude these as soon as possible. Both sides have agreed to open, on 28 November, the first land access route for the use of UNMEE's convoys and other activities. This is a most welcome development, since it is crucial that UNMEE enjoy freedom of movement and early access by UNMEE to the future Temporary Security Zone. Further efforts will be pursued to establish air access routes. We are making progress in this regard and I will keep you informed.

The ceasefire has held since the signing of an agreement in June under the auspices of President Bouteflika of Algeria. Thus far, both parties have shown a commitment to implement this document. That is a real achievement.

The deployment of UNMEE is designed to help maintain peace between two countries. The military observers on the ground are developing the capacity to verify the situation and discuss problems that might arise. This should help the parties to reduce mutual mistrust. One step that would contribute greatly in this regard would be the establishment of the Military Coordination Commission, as called for in the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. I am pleased to note that both parties have agreed with UNMEE that the first session of the Commission could be held later this month.

We must sustain this momentum, not least to gain additional support from the international community for the development needs of both countries. United Nations agencies are ready to do their part. Indeed, close coordination between UNMEE and the humanitarian agencies will be essential, and for that reason a system of civil-military liaison should be established as soon as possible.

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I trust that both parties will continue to cooperate with the mediators to the proximity talks, Algerian Minister Abdelkader Messahel and the United States Special Envoy Anthony Lake, with a view toward resolving the outstanding issues and achieving a comprehensive settlement. The United Nations stands ready to assist, and my Special Representative is ready to take part in future talks in his capacity as observer.

Allow me, Mr. President, to conclude by noting that the beginning of any peacekeeping operation is a very sensitive time. The steps the United Nations takes send signals -- about our intentions, our effectiveness and most of all our resolve. At the same time, the steps taken by the parties also offer indications: about their willingness to cooperate, and about the level of trust and political will.

With our diplomats, military personnel and civilian staff taking up their positions, we have entered a period of higher stakes and intensified scrutiny of our actions. The people of Eritrea and Ethiopia, and many others beyond their borders, are counting on us to help. Together, let us rise to this challenge and I hope we do.

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