UNMEE - DRAFT UN RESOLUTION ON TERMINATION

UNCLAS STATE 037951 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO ET ER SUBJECT: UNMEE - DRAFT UN RESOLUTION ON TERMINATION ¶1. This is an action request. USUN and Embassy Brussels are instructed to share the following draft text for a UN resolution terminating the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) with the Belgian Mission to the UN and with appropriate officials in Brussels. Begin Text: The Security Council, Reaffirming all its previous resolutions and statements pertaining to the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and welcoming the Special Report of the Secretary-General on UNMEE (S/2008/226), Stressing once again its unwavering commitment to the peace process, and to the full and expeditious implementation of the Algiers Agreements as a basis for peaceful and cooperative relations between the parties, and recalling paragraph 15 of article 4 of the Peace Agreement of 12 December 2000 S/2000/1183, in which the parties agreed that the delimitation and demarcation determinations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) shall be final and binding, Welcoming once again the acceptance by the parties of the delimitation decision of the EEBC of 13 April 2002, recalling that it acknowledged the Statement of the EEBC of 27 November 2006, and taking note of the 26th EEBC Report annexed to the Secretary-General,s report of 23 January 2008 S/2008/40, SIPDIS Stressing that a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia regarding their common boundary is among the elements essential for normalization of their relations, Recalling the objectives of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities of 18 June 2000 S/2000/601, in particular to create conditions conducive to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the conflict, Expressing its deep concern about the remilitarization of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) by Eritrea, the continued tense and potentially unstable security situation along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border and the adjacent areas, including recent provocative activities by Eritrea near Bure, and stressing that it is the primary responsibility of the Parties to end this situation by fulfilling their obligations under the Algiers Agreements, Recalling paragraph 52 of the Special Report of the Secretary-General on UNMEE S/2008/226, which notes that the SIPDIS two parties bear the primary responsibility to resolve their border dispute and should muster the political will to take the steps necessary to address the legitimate legal, political and security concerns of the other, Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General and the availability of his good offices to facilitate full implementation of the agreements that Eritrea and Ethiopia have entered into, as expressed in paragraph 55 of the Special Report of the Secretary-General on UNMEE S/2008/226, Underlining that the Security Council remains committed to its role, in particular helping to ensure that the parties respect the commitments they made in the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities of 18 June 2000 S/2000/601 and the Peace Agreement of 12 December 2000 S/2000/1183, to which the United Nations is a witness, Welcoming the continuing engagement of the Witnesses to the Algiers Agreements ( Witnesses,) and their efforts to resolve the current impasse between Eritrea and Ethiopia, in order to promote stability between the parties and lay the foundation for sustainable peace in the region, Strongly condemning the imposition of restrictions by Eritrea on the freedom of movement of UNMEE, as well as additional restrictions imposed on the operations of UNMEE, including the stoppage of all fuel supplies to the Mission, and the obstacles these restrictions posed to the performance of its duties, Recalling the Statement of its President of 15 February 2008 S/PRST/2008/7, which strongly condemned the lack of cooperation from the Government of Eritrea that not only gravely contravenes United Nations Security Council resolutions and the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, but also fails to comply with Eritrea,s general obligation to assist forces that have been stationed with its consent, Recalling paragraph 47 of the Special Report of the Secretary-General on UNMEE S/2008/226, which notes that SIPDIS Eritrea,s military occupation of the TSZ and the restrictions it has imposed on UNMEE are a violation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, and have undermined the very basis of the Mission's mandate. Commending the efforts made by UNMEE and its military and civilian personnel to accomplish its duties, despite the difficult circumstances, Expressing its deep appreciation for the contribution and dedication of the troop-contributing countries to the work of UNMEE, Having considered the Special Report of the Secretary-General on UNMEE S/2008/226, SIPDIS ¶1. Decides that UNMEE,s mandate shall end on 31 May 2008; ¶2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to ensure an orderly termination of UNMEE,s operations prior to the end of UNMEE,s mandate, to include the withdrawal from Ethiopia and Eritrea of all UNMEE personnel and of all UNMEE equipment not otherwise disposed of by UNMEE; ¶3. Condemns the imposition of restrictions by Eritrea on UNMEE which prevented UNMEE from executing its mandate and compelled temporary relocation from the TSZ, and demands that Eritrea cooperate fully with the safeguarding and withdrawal of UNMEE,s personnel and equipment from its territory, including by making appropriate arrangements to ensure the safekeeping of United Nations-owned equipment (UNOE) and contingency-owned equipment (COE) pending its withdrawal, and expresses its intention to consider measures under Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations in the event that the Eritrea fails to provide such cooperation; ¶4. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly updated on the process of withdrawing UNMEE and to report without delay any failure by Eritrea to comply with the Security Council's demand in paragraph 3; ¶5. Deplores recent activity by Eritrea in Bure which threatens to destabilize the situation, and urges both sides to show maximum restraint, to refrain from any threat or use of force against each other, to avoid provocative military activities, and to end the exchange of hostile statements in the interest of peace; ¶6. Reiterates its call on Eritrea and Ethiopia to maintain their full commitment to the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, and to de-escalate the situation, including by respecting the TSZ, reducing the number of military forces and heavy equipment near their common border, and returning to the 16 December 2004 levels of deployment; ¶7. Underlines that Eritrea and Ethiopia bear the primary responsibility for achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the border dispute and normalizing their relations, and demands that they take immediately concrete steps in order to complete the process launched by the Peace Agreement of 12 December 2000 S/2000/1183 by implementing the delimitation decision of the EEBC and enabling demarcation of the border; ¶8. Strongly supports the ongoing efforts by the Secretary-General and the international community to engage SIPDIS with Eritrea and Ethiopia to facilitate normalization of their relations, to promote stability between the parties, to lay the foundation for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the dispute, and urges the parties to accept the Secretary-General,s good offices; SIPDIS ¶9. Requests the Secretary-General to engage with the parties on how the UN might most effectively facilitate implementation of agreements that the parties have entered into and what United Nations presence in the area would be most effective, especially along their common border, drawing from the four options recommended in paragraph 54 of the Special Report of the Secretary-General on UNMEE S/2008/226; ¶10. Requests the Secretary-General to issue a report by May 15 that sets out the details of the outcome of his consultations with the parties and specific proposals agreed upon with them concerning the United Nations role and presence, and expresses its intention to consider further steps in light of this report; ¶11. Calls on Member States to provide contributions to the Trust Fund, established pursuant to Resolution 1177 (1998) and referred to in Article 4 (17) of the Peace Agreement of 12 December 2000; ¶12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. End text. RICE