Eritrea’s restrictions on UN flights hamper peace operation, senior envoy says

Warning that Eritrea’s restrictions on United Nations helicopter flights are hampering peace operations, a senior UN envoy in the Horn of Africa today called for an immediate end to the measures and a breakthrough in the political stalemate gripping that country and its neighbour, Ethiopia, as they seek to settle their differences.

Speaking at a press briefing in Addis Ababa, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, said if Eritrea’s decision was not reversed, it would halve the usefulness of the UN mission (UNMEE) to the parties.

He also warned that there would be more challenges of this type to the peace process as long as the current stalemate continues and called for decisive measures to achieve a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, at a news conference in Asmara, UNMEE Force Commander Major-General Rajender Singh told the journalists that the decision had prompted peacekeepers to step up their foot patrols.

He also said the ban seriously impaired the ability of blue helmets to monitor the Temporary Security Zone between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which fought a two-year border war that ended in 2000.

The Force Commander added that the restrictions put peacekeepers at greater risk, especially those in remote areas who would not have access to flights in the event of a medical emergency requiring evacuation.

Earlier this week, Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the UN Security Council both called on the Government of Eritrea to reverse its decision immediately.

In New York today, Mr. Annan’s spokesman said the UN had been in contact with the Eritrean authorities, but had received no explanation for the restrictions. The UN hoped the matter would be resolved quickly, Stephane Dujarric said.

Asked about UNMEE’s helicopter assets, he said the Mission maintains a fleet of eight – six MI-8s and two Bell – used for such activities as monitoring, delivering supplies and medical evacuation. UNMEE usually launched five or six reconnaissance flights out of a total of 20 flights daily. Three camps are dependent on UNMEE supply flights because they are remote, although they can be reached by road, according to the spokesman.