Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK359
2007-05-09 16:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UNSC/ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: THE DEVIL IS IN THE

Tags:  ER ET PGOV PHUM PREL UNSC KPKO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0359/01 1291628
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091628Z MAY 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1849
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 1292
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 1072
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0602
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0731
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0873
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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

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