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,

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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;

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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