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Security Council approves arms embargo against Ethiopia-Eritrea |
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May 19, 2000
UNITED NATIONS, MAY 18 (AP) - The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved an arms embargo against Ethiopia and Eritrea following the latest flare-up in their two-year war.
The embargo, approved Wednesday night, will be terminated immediately if Secretary-General Kofi Annan reports that "a peaceful definitive settlement of the conflict" has been concluded.
Otherwise, the council will review compliance with the embargo after 12 months and decide whether it should be extended.
"I think it sends an unequivocal and strong message to the parties to bring an end to this conflict," deputy U.S. Ambassador Nancy Soderberg said after the 15-0 vote on the U.S.-sponsored resolution.
Council members resolved differences over the time limit between the United States and Britain on one side, and Russia and France on the other, after several hours of debate.
The United States, backed by Britain, initially wanted a total arms embargo on both countries, which would only be lifted when a final peace agreement had been signed.
Russia, a major arms supplier to both countries, initially opposed an arms embargo.
The Russians dropped their objection to an arms embargo Tuesday and joined France and other countries in demanding a time limit.
The United States and Britain dropped their demand for an unlimited embargo and proposed that the council review compliance after 12 months - the time frame that was ultimately accepted.
"It's time limited for the first time in history," said Russia's U.N. Ambassador Sergey Lavrov.
Russia and France oppose unlimited economic sanctions, especially those imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, which they argue have caused great suffering to ordinary Iraqis.
Fighting between the Horn of Africa neighbors broke out on several fronts last Friday. Hours later, the Security Council unanimously adopted a British-sponsored resolution calling for "immediate steps" to be taken if the two countries didn't stop fighting and resume talks.
The resolution adopted Wednesday night recalls that the council urged all countries last year to end sales of arms and ammunition to Eritrea and Ethiopia.
It bans the sale or supply of weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts to both countries. It also prohibits military-related training or technical assistance.
The conflict over the 620-mile (1,000-kilometer) border between Ethiopia and Eritrea - among the world's poorest countries - has cost the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides.
The resolution deplores the loss of life, strongly condemns the continued fighting, and demands an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of forces.
Both countries have agreed to an Organization of African Unity blueprint for peace.
But Eritrea wants a cease-fire first, which would include a pullback by both sides and a U.N.-supervised demarcation of the border. Ethiopia wants implementation before a cease-fire, and says Eritrea's position amounts to "setting preconditions."
The resolution demands the earliest possible reconvening, without preconditions, of "substantive peace talks" under OAU auspices.
It also requests the OAU chairman to consider dispatching an envoy to the region to seek an immediate cease-fire and resumption of the peace talks. This was a key Russian demand.
"The resolution has strong support for the OAU process and strong endorsement for negotiating a peaceful settlement and final agreement of this bloody conflict," said Soderberg, the U.S. envoy.
The fighting forced the World Food Program to temporarily halt food distribution in Ethiopia's western border area, which could affect tens of thousands of displaced people.
The resolution strongly regrets "the negative impact the diversion of resources to the conflict continues to have on efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian food crisis in the region." It requests the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments to provide humanitarian assistance and ensure its delivery to needy people.
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