UN Security Council Envoy Says Eritrean-Ethiopia Situation Requires Delicacy
New York, Nov 7 2005 4:00PM
At the start of a two-day tour of Eritrea and Ethiopia to dispel rising tensions, the Chairman of the United Nations
Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations said today that the resolution of the border dispute between
the formerly warring Horn of Africa countries called for "delicacy, skills and good judgement."
Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima met for almost three hours in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, with the UN Mission in
Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), being given a political overview by mission chief Legwaila Joseph Legwaila and a briefing
from Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Rajender Singh on the peacekeeping situation since the banning of UN helicopters from
Eritrean air space on 5 October.
He also met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin for what he called "a very fruitful exchange" and later had an
exchange with representatives of UNMEE's troop-contributing countries and other interested Governments, as well as
members of the UN Country Team.
UNMEE has reported increased restrictions on the movements of its ground patrols in certain areas of Eritrea. Its
mandate includes monitoring the cessation of hostilities, monitoring and verifying the positions of the two forces 25
kilometres apart, removing land mines in key areas to support boundary demarcation and providing administrative and
logistical support for the Field Offices of the Boundary Commission.
Eritrea has accepted the Boundary Commission's decisions, but Ethiopia has expressed reservations.
Mr. Oshima told a news conference that the Security Council would continue to urge Eritrea to lift the helicopter ban
and to call on both countries to exercise maximum restraint.
Mr. Mesfin explained his country's deployment of troops on its side of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) and stressed
that Ethiopia had no intention of being the first to take action, he said.
The Council representative leaves tomorrow for the Eritrean capital, Asmara, for talks with President Isaias Afewerki
and UNMEE representatives.
ENDS