SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

 

The following Security Council press statement on Ethiopia and Eritrea was read out today by Council President Ricardo Alberto Arias ( Panama):

The members of the Security Council recall the adoption on Wednesday, 30 January, of resolution 1798 (2008) extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) for a period of six months and demanding that both countries immediately take concrete steps in order to complete the process launched by the Peace Agreement of 12 December 2000, while urging them to normalize their relations.

The members of the Security Council recall, in particular, their demand that the Government of Eritrea resumes immediately fuel shipments to UNMEE or allows UNMEE to import fuel without restrictions.  The members of the Security Council are very seriously concerned about the fact that the fuel restrictions have not yet been lifted.

The members of the Security Council reiterate their firm and unwavering demand that Eritrea forthwith and without preconditions lift its restrictions on fuel deliveries so that UNMEE be in a position to execute its extended mandate.  The members of the Security Council also request Eritrea to facilitate in all ways the dispatch of the United Nations technical assessment mission, which is due to depart for the region on Tuesday, 5 February.

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For information media • not an official record