S/PV.3985 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them identical letters dated 27 February 1999 from the Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council, transmitting the text of a letter dated 27 February 1999 from the President of Eritrea addressed to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council, document S/1999/215. (spoke in French) Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council reaffirms its resolutions 1177 (1998) of 26 June 1998, 1226 (1999) of 29 January 1999 and 1227 (1999) of 10 February 1999 which called on Ethiopia and Eritrea to refrain from armed conflict and to accept and implement the Framework Agreement as approved by the Central Organ Summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, “The Security Council demands an immediate halt to all hostilities and calls on the parties to refrain from the further use of force. (spoke in English) “The Security Council welcomes the acceptance by Eritrea at the Head of State level of the OAU Framework Agreement and recalls the prior acceptance of the Agreement by Ethiopia. The OAU Framework Agreement remains a viable and sound basis for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. “The Security Council reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and Eritrea. “The Security Council expresses its willingness to consider all appropriate support to implement a peace agreement between the two parties. “The Security Council expresses its continuing support for the efforts of the OAU, the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy, Ambassador Sahnoun, and concerned Member States to find a peaceful resolution to the border dispute. “The Security Council remains actively seized of the matter.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1999/9. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.