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Security Adopts Resolution On Eritrea, Ethiopia

The Reporter (Addis Ababa)
NEWS
November 26, 2005
Posted to the web November 29, 2005

By Kassahun Addis

A tense situation is prevailing along the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
This followed the ban imposed by the Eritrean government on United Nations
Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea(UNMEE) helicopters and the consequent increased
troops movement along the border.
Before the restrictions on UNMEE helicopters flights, the Temporary Security
Zone (TSZ) used to enjoy relative stability. In a weekly media briefing, UNMEE
had said, "The situation in the TSZ and Adjacent areas remains to be militarily
stable." "The military situation in the Temporary Security Zone and the
Adjacent Areas remains tense and potentially volatile; troop movements have
been observed on both the Ethiopian and Eritrea sides of the border," UNMEE is
now saying.
The United Nations Security Council this week unanimously adopted resolution
(Resolution 1640 (2005)) asking the two countries, without further delay and
preconditions, to take measures aimed at reducing the risk of war.
The Security Council called upon both Ethiopia and Eritrea to break the ongoing
stalement through diplomatic efforts.
It also urged the two parties to show maximum restraints and to refrain from
any threat or use of force against each other. If military confrontations are
to be avoided, immediate and complete redeployment of troops should be carried
out within 30 days, the resolution said.
The Security Council specifically called for immediate and unconditional
cooperation from the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission.
"The Security Council demands that Ethiopia accept fully and without further
delay the final and binding decision of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary
Commission and take immediately, concrete steps to enable, without
preconditions, the commission to demarcate the border completely and promptly
and expresses its determination to monitor closely the action of both parties
in relation to the demarcation of the border and to keep this matter under
consideration," the resolution said.
In its particular address to Eritrea, a provision in the resolution said, "The
Security Council deeply deplores Eritrea's continued imposition of restrictions
on the freedom of movement of UNMEE and demands that the Government of Eritrea
reverse, without further delay or preconditions, its decision to ban UNMEE
helicopter flight, as well as additional restrictions imposed on the operations
of UNMEE, and provide UNMEE with the access, assistance, support and protection
required for the performance of its duties."
If the two fail
The Security Council requested, in the resolution, the secretary-general of the
United Ntions, Koffi Anan, to monitor the parties' compliance in relation to
showing "maximum restraints" and refraining from "any threat or use of force"
against each other. The compliance of the two countries will also be monitored
by Koffi Anan in relation to the redeployment of their troops to position that
was on December 16, 2004.
The secretary-general will also be monitoring whether the Asmara government
would reverse the decision to ban UNMEE helicopters flights and other
restrictions.
The Security Council is determined to consider "further appropriate measures"
if one or both of the states failed to comply with the demands that are to be
monitored by the secretary-general.
The phrase "further appropriate measures" includes Article 41 of the Charter of
the UN, according to the resolution.
Article 41 of the UN Charter reads as follows:
The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed
force are to be employed to give effect to its decision, and it may call upon
the Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include
complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air,
postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance
of diplomatic relations.
Reaction from Asmara
The regime in Asmara was furious about the resolution the UN Security Council
passed. The Isayas Afeworki government said the resolution was too soft on
Ethiopia and too strong on Eritrea.
The Security Council failed to carry out its duties and responsibilities as a
guardian of international peace and security said the Eritrean government. It
added that the council saying the resolution didn't do its assignment in regard
to Ethiopia.
"The resolution is not threatening any action if Ethiopia doesn't accept the
demarcation of the border," said Yemane Gebremeskel, the director the
president's office in Asmara.
Yemane noted that Eritrea would not lift the ban on UNMEE helicopter flights.
The Council should put down specific consequences for Ethiopia's failure to
cooperate with the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary commission, he added.

   

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