UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea extended 6 months
With an eye towards facilitating the successful demarcation of the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, while maintaining stability in the region, the United Nations Security Council today extended the mandate of the UN mission in the region for six months, until 15 March 2004.
Unanimously adopting a new resolution to extend the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), the Council called on both countries to cooperate fully and promptly with the Boundary Commission to enable it to fulfil its demarcating activities, to implement fully the Commission's Demarcation Directions and Orders and to take all necessary steps to provide the necessary security on the ground for the Commission's staff and contractors operating in territories under their control.
Prior to taking a decision today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan submitted his progress report on the situation in the two countries, which included an annexed update of the Commission's work from 10 June to 29 August. Mr. Annan noted that in the same manner in which the two parties created the Commission and selected its members, they must now accept its decisions and assist it in the expeditious demarcation of the border. "At the same time," he said, "Ethiopia and Eritrea will have to come to terms with the fact that they are destined by geography to remain neighbours."
Noting that the peace process has entered its crucial phase of demarcation, the Council today emphasized the importance of ensuring expeditious implementation of the Boundary Decision while maintaining stability in all areas affected by the Decision.
The Council, concerned at delays in the demarcation process, particularly given the Mission's operational cost at a time of growing demands on UN peacekeeping, called for boundary demarcation to begin as scheduled. It further called on the parties to create the necessary conditions for demarcation to proceed, including the appointment of field liaison officers.
Concerned also by the reported increase in incidents of local level incursions into the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ), the Council also called on both parties to prevent such incidents and expressed further concern about the increasing number of mine incidents in the TSZ, including newly planted mines.
Video of Security Council meeting