UNSC/ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: THE DEVIL IS IN THE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000359 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ER ET PGOV PHUM PREL UNSC KPKO SUBJECT: UNSC/ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: THE DEVIL IS IN THE DEMARCATION REF: A. SECSTATE 60811 ¶B. SECSTATE 61844 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. United Nations (UN) Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Africa Division Director Titov told the UN Security Council (UNSC) at May 8 consultations that a renewed appeal from the UNSC was needed to defuse the tense and volatile military situation on the ground in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He noted movements of troops and heavy equipment by both sides into the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) in violation of the Cessation of Hostilities agreement and of relevant UNSC resolutions. Titov noted that the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE),despite restrictions imposed on its movement by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE),had an important role to play in encouraging the parties to exercise restraint, but he mentioned the possibility that UNMEE could eventually be subject to further downsizing, given the impediments to effective operation. Titov noted that the Secretary-General (SYG) was considering appointment of a new Special Representative for UNMEE and was advocating a resumption of the functioning of the Military Coordination Commission (MCC). Most Members welcomed the March 29 statement by Ethiopian PM Meles expressing Ethiopia's acceptance of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) delimitation decision, but warned that such acceptance needed to be concretely implemented to be credible and meaningful. DPKO welcomed the U.S. statement (ref A) as a strong message to the parties. After last-minute discussions with the Qatari delegation, the Council adopted the Belgian-drafted Press Statement; text in Paragraph 7. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) DPKO Africa Director Titov told the UNSC at May 8 consultations that a renewed appeal from the UNSC was needed to defuse the tense and volatile military situation on the ground in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He catalogued incursions observed by UNMEE of both Eritrean and Ethiopian troops and heavy equipment into the TSZ, namely in Sector West. Titov noted, however, that such a military presence may have had a direct effect on the reduction in the number of cross-border incidents observed in this reporting period. Titov pointed out that GSE restrictions imposed on UNMEE in October 2005 were still in place and were increasing, constituting, along with TSZ incursions, violations of the June 2000 Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and of relevant UNSC resolutions. ¶3. (SBU) Titov made clear that both Eritrea and Ethiopia must cooperate with UNMEE, which in turn played an important role in encouraging the parties to exercise restraint in this tense environment. Titov stated that neither Eritrea nor Ethiopia had allowed the EEBC to resume demarcation activities along their common border. Titov acknowledged the March 29 statement by Ethiopian PM Meles expressing Ethiopia's acceptance of the EEBC delimitation decision but pointed out that the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) could nevertheless not envisage demarcation without an accompanying dialogue on issues including territorial exchange. Titov noted that the SYG was considering appointment of a new Special Representative for UNMEE and was advocating a resumption of the functioning of the MCC. Titov recommended that the UNSC send a renewed appeal to try to defuse the situation on the ground before it escalates any further. ¶4. (SBU) Members were concerned by Titov's reports of movements of troops and materiel into the TSZ, as well as by the hostile rhetoric exchanged by the parties and the continued restrictions on UNMEE. Most Members welcomed the March 29 statement by Ethiopian PM Meles expressing Ethiopia's acceptance of the EEBC decision, but warned that such acceptance needed to be concretely implemented to be credible. The Qatari delegate expressed concern about Ethiopian "noncompliance" with the Algiers Agreements, which he considered key to resolving the crisis between the countries. Belgian Permanent Representative (PR) Verbeke, whose delegation takes the lead on Ethiopia/Eritrea matters in the UNSC, urged PR Meles to move from delimitation to demarcation, a call echoed by the UK and French delegates. Some Members, namely Belgium, Italy, China and Congo called for the appointment of a new SRSG for UNMEE as an "important gesture" in engaging with the parties. The Chinese representative called on the parties to take advantage of diplomatic channels to solve their problems to refrain from "aggravating" activity. The French representative suggested the possibility of launching a regional dialogue to address the ongoing crisis. ¶5. (SBU) Drawing from ref A points, Ambassador Sanders expressed USG concern over continued GSE restrictions on UNMEE and over allegations of human rights abuses by both sides. She made clear the USG desire for the parties to refrain from hostile rhetoric, to withdraw their respective forces from the TSZ and to cooperate with UNMEE. She warned, however, that should UNMEE be further handicapped by the situation on the ground, the Council must continue to reconfigure UNMEE accordingly. The Qatari delegate said the idea of drawing down UNMEE put the UNSC in an increasingly difficult situation when addressing the crisis, and the Chinese and Russian delegates also supported UNMEE's continued "stabilizing" presence. Ambassador Sanders called on Ethiopia to act to demonstrate its March 29 acceptance of the EEBC delimitation decision and to resume its payments to the EEBC. Finally, she supported the calls for reinvigorating the work of the MCC and for steps to be taken to appoint a new SRSG. Titov told Poloff after the briefing he had considered the U.S. statement to be appropriately strong. ¶6. (SBU) Drawing from ref B guidance, USUN introduced amendments to the Belgian-drafted Press Statement. While delegations did not object to using language from Paragraph 22 of the EEBC's November 2006 Statement in the last paragraph of the Belgian draft, several (including Italy, Qatar and Indonesia) opposed specifying the delimitation decision in Paragraph 3 of the draft text. In a reinterpretation of the language of PM Meles' March 29 statement, Qatar (supported by Italy) sought to include language in paragraph 3 that would express Ethiopia's "unconditional" acceptance of the EEBC decision. Ambassador Khalilzad convinced that delegation to revert to the original text of that paragraph. The statement was unanimously adopted and read to the press immediately after consultations. ¶7. (U) Begin Press Statement text: Members of the Security Council remain deeply concerned by the impasse in the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process and by the growing tension between the two countries. Members of the Security Council once again reaffirm the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone and urge both parties to withdraw immediately their troops and equipment from positions within and in close proximity to the Temporary Security Zone. Members of the Security Council are encouraged by the statement that the Prime Minister of Ethiopia made to Parliament on 29 March 2007 that the Ethiopian Government had accepted the final and binding decision of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) and demand Ethiopia to implement fully and without delay the EEBC decision. Members of the Security Council reiterate their support to UNMEE and their demand that Eritrea reverse, without delay or preconditions, all restrictions on UNMEE's movement and operations and call upon both parties to fully cooperate with UNMEE with a view to resuming the meetings of the Military Coordination Commission. Members of the Security Council reiterate their call on both parties to show maximum restraint and to refrain from hostile public statements and from any threat or use of force against each other. Members of the Security Council welcome and look forward to the continuation of the ongoing efforts by the Secretary-General and the international community to engage, SIPDIS as stipulated in RES 1741 (2007),including by appointing a new Special Representative, with Eritrea and Ethiopia to help them to normalize their relations, to promote stability between the parties, and to lay the foundation for sustainable peace in the region. Members of the Security Council reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the peace process, including in the full and expeditious implementation of the Algiers Agreements and implementation of the final and binding EEBC decision and in this regard call upon both parties to request and enable the Boundary Commission to proceed with the complete and prompt demarcation of the border. ¶8. (SBU) End Press Statement text. KHALILZAD