Resolution should not remain “inconclusive”

In a statement to the Security Council on Monday during an open debate on the Ethiopia-Eritrea peacekeeping mission, UK representative Stewart Eldon said the fighting between the two countries “must rank high on any list of totally avoidable conflicts”. He said the cost in human suffering had been enormous with over one million Eritreans affected by the conflict, including over 90,000 forced to seek refuge in neighbouring Sudan since May. In Ethiopia, the war had “exacerbated an already desperate food shortage”, said Eldon. He warned that the involvement of the peace broker, President Bouteflika of Algeria, and US mediators was a continued necessity to achieve lasting peace. It was essential that “both parties to the conflict maintain the ceasefire and adhere precisely and completely to the terms of the cessation agreement” to allow early deployment of the proposed peacekeeping force, he said.

Japanese representative, Hideaki Kobayashi - whose country has been one of the largest donors to both countries - said it was vital to resolve the border issue. “The resolution of the border issue should not remain inconclusive, since it has been a cause of this conflict and it could provoke hostilities again.” He said Japan was considering the possibility of making a financial contribution to de-mining programmes by the United Nations in the area.

Diplomatic sources told IRIN there was concern that demarcation of the border remained a highly sensitive issue between the two countries, despite the ceasefire. Contributions to the Security Council debate underlined the need for a “comprehensive negotiated settlement” of the conflict, beyond the agreed ceasefire signed 18 June.