 |
|
|
Photo # 202514
|
UN Photo/Jenny Rockett
|
|
Security Council Reviews Peace and Security in Africa
|
|
|
Security Council meeting during its consideration of peace and security in Africa.
|
|
|
Location: United Nations, New York
|
Date: 23 October 2008
|
Speech by the Eritrean Permanent Mission to UN Security Council By Oct 24, 2008, 14:23 Mr. President, 
I wish to thank you and the members of the Security Council for the opportunity accorded to my delegation to participate in this briefing session of the Council that has been requested by H.E. Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, in connection with the so-called Djibouti/Eritrea question under Agenda item “Peace and Security in Africa”.
Mr. President,
On 24 June, during a similar briefing to the Security Council by the Prime Minster of the Republic of Djibouti, my delegation had expressed its views on how the crisis was instigated and internationalized. The series of hostile campaigns waged against Eritrea and the unwarranted statements that followed without any concrete evidence were also addressed. I wish, therefore, not to dwell on the genesis of the manufactured problem, but, briefly, let me highlight the following points:
- There is no new development since the brief incident in June that was instigated by the unprovoked attack unleashed by Djibouti against our units inside our own territory;
- The deliberate design to unleash a new crisis in our region has been fortunately forestalled;
- Despite the negative campaigns, Eritrea, all along, has chosen the path of restraint and patience in order to prevent falling into the trap of escalating a crisis, not of Djibouti’s making but created by others;
- Contrary to the claims made, Eritrea has not taken any land that belongs to Djibouti and it does not have any territorial ambitions.
- Although this is not related to the issue at hand, Eritrea has communicated its security concerns along the Eritrea-Ethiopia-Djibouti border area as stated in document S/2008/446. Ethiopia has set up a new military camp on mount Musa-Ali perked on a border junction of the three countries (Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia). Ethiopia has built from the Djiboutian side a network of winding roads up the mount, and deployed offensive long-range artillery and heavy equipment directed at Eritrea;
- Eritrea would also like to take the occasion to remind UN Security Council Member States that Ethiopia continues to occupy sovereign Eritrean territories in violation of the UN Charter and the Algiers Peace Agreement. You will have received the last report of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission which clarifies the dimensions of the problem with full clarity and which will be addressed exhaustively in due time;
- In as far as this manufactured problem with Djibouti is concerned, it must be recalled that the two leaders had spoken about the issue, when President Isaias took the initiative to call President Guelle, and decided to address it in a calm and quite manner that takes into account the sisterly ties that existed between the two countries and the need to ensure peace and security in the sub-region;
- This occurred when Eritrea was approached by the Emir of Qatar to which Eritrea showed its openness to solve any real or perceived source of problem between the two states;
- Eritrea’s desire remains, Mr. President, the restoration and cultivation of good neighborly relations with Djibouti on the basis of each other’s full respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty. However, Eritrea will not allow itself to be dragged into and invited to engage in a diversionary and fabricated conflict, or obliged to exchange on a situation designed to foment conflict on the ground.
I thank you, Mr. President.
comment closed