UN ends arms embargo

The United Nations Security Council has decided to lift the embargo on arms sales to Ethiopia and Eritrea. A statement read by the Council’s president, James Cunningham of the United States, said that under the current circumstances the embargo would be allowed to expire, but warned that the UN would again take action if tension between the two countries threatened peace and security in the Horn. In the statement, delivered on Tuesday, Cunningham said: “The Security Council urges the parties to ensure that efforts are redirected from weapons procurement and other military activities towards the reconstruction and development of both economies, and regional reconciliation, with a view to achieving stability in the Horn of Africa.” Cunningham said the Council was encouraging UN member states “to exercise the highest degree of responsibility in discouraging arms flows to countries and regions emerging from armed conflicts”. The arms embargo was imposed a year ago in an effort to end the Ethiopia-Eritrea border war, and will expire at midnight on Wednesday.