Security Council

4320^th Meeting (AM)

ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA MUST PROVIDE UN MISSION WITH UNRESTRICTED ACCESS

AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL TELLS PARTIES

The Security Council this afternoon stressed that the parties in the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict must provide unrestricted free movement and access to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) and its supplies, including within the Temporary Security Zone, whose purpose is to separate the parties' armed forces.

In a presidential statement, read by its President for the month, James Cunningham (United States), the Council said that free and unhindered access for the Mission was a fundamental condition for the success of the peacekeeping operation.  The Zone must be completely demilitarized, and the civilians inside of it should be supported by an appropriate but limited number of Eritrean civilian militia and police.

The Council called on the parties to cooperate fully and expeditiously with UNMEE in implementing its mandate, and to abide scrupulously by the letter and spirit of their agreements, particularly regarding the inviolability of the Temporary Security Zone.  It also called on both parties to exercise restraint in their public statements.

In a related provision, the Council called for the continued facilitation of mine action in coordination with the United Nations Mine Action Service.  It encouraged the parties to exercise caution in returning civilians to the Temporary Security Zone before it had been adequately demined.  It further called for the immediate establishment of a secure air corridor between Addis Ababa and Asmara that did not require a detour through other countries. 

By a further provision, the Council urged the parties to ensure that efforts were redirected from weapons procurement and other military activities towards the reconstruction and development of both economies, and regional reconciliation, with a view to achieving stability in the Horn of Africa.  It also stated that the arm embargo imposed on both sides in May 2000 had not been extended beyond 16 May 2001.

The meeting, which began at 12:16 p.m., adjourned at 12:21 p.m.

The full text of the statement, to be issued as S/PRST/2001/14, is as follows:

"Recalling all previous resolutions and statements of its President regarding the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Security Council emphasizes the importance of the commitments undertaken by the Government of

the State of Eritrea and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Agreement of Cessation of Hostilities signed in Algiers on 18 June 2000 (S/2001/601) and the subsequent Peace Agreement between the parties (S/2000/1183) signed in Algiers on 12 December 2000 ('Algiers Agreements').

"The Security Council reiterates its strong support for the Secretary-General’s role in helping to implement the Agreements, including through his own good offices, and for the efforts of his Special Representative.  It further expresses its appreciation for the continued role of the Organization of African Unity in helping to implement the Algiers Agreements.

"The Security Council reiterates its appreciation for the continued deployment of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) both to the troop-contributing countries and to those Member States that have provided UNMEE with additional assets.

"The Security Council encourages both parties to continue working towards the full and prompt implementation of the Agreements and, in this context, to take concrete confidence-building measures.  The Council further reaffirms its continued commitment to a peaceful definitive settlement of the conflict.  In this connection, the Council notes with satisfaction that the parties have agreed to the Secretary-General’s proposal of 1 May 2001, on the composition of the Boundary and Claims Commissions, critical components to the peaceful definitive settlement of the conflict.  It now calls on the parties to fully cooperate with the Boundary Commission and to fulfil their financial responsibilities regarding the Boundary Commission’s work.

"The Security Council stresses that the parties must provide free movement and access for UNMEE and its supplies as required throughout the territories of the parties, without any restrictions, including within the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) and the 15 km wide adjacent area.  Free and unhindered access for UNMEE is a fundamental condition for the success of the peacekeeping operation.  The Security Council emphasizes further that the purpose of the TSZ is to separate the parties’ armed forces.  The TSZ must be completely demilitarized.  The civilian populations inside the TSZ should be supported by an appropriate but limited number of Eritrean civilian militia and police.

"The Security Council calls on the parties to cooperate fully and expeditiously with UNMEE in the implementation of its mandate and to abide scrupulously by the letter and spirit of their agreements, particularly regarding the inviolability of the TSZ.  It also calls on both parties to exercise restraint in their public statements.

"The Security Council further calls on the parties to continue to facilitate mine action in coordination with the United Nations Mine Action Service.  It encourages the parties to exercise caution in returning civilians to the TSZ before it has been adequately demined.  The Council further calls for the immediate establishment of a secure air corridor between Addis Ababa and Asmara that does not require a detour through other countries.  It also calls on Eritrea to conclude the necessary Status of Forces Agreement for UNMEE.

"The Security Council notes that, in accordance with paragraph 16 of resolution 1298 (2000) of 17 May 2000, the arms embargo on the parties expires on 16 May 2001.  The Council recognizes that the Algiers Agreements are consistent with paragraphs 2 through 4 of resolution 1298.  Under the current circumstances, the measures imposed by paragraph 6 of the same resolution have not been extended by the Council beyond 16 May 2001.

"The Security Council urges the parties to ensure that efforts are redirected from weapons procurement and other military activities towards the reconstruction and development of both economies, and regional reconciliation, with a view to achieving stability in the Horn of Africa.  The Council reiterates its encouragement of Member States to exercise the highest degree of responsibility in discouraging arms flows to countries and regions emerging from armed conflicts.

"The Security Council remains vigilant and expresses its intention to take appropriate measures if the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia again threatens regional peace and security.

"The Security Council will remain seized of the matter."

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