S/PV.5326 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. After consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council has agreed, in consultation with the Secretary-General, to temporarily relocate military and civilian staff of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) from Eritrea to Ethiopia. The Security Council intends to maintain an UNMEE military presence in Eritrea during the period in which it is reviewing future plans for UNMEE. “The Security Council has approved this decision solely in the interests of the safety and security of UNMEE staff. The lack of cooperation with UNMEE by the Eritrean authorities has produced conditions on the ground which prevent UNMEE implementing its mandate satisfactorily. “The Security Council strongly condemns Eritrea’s unacceptable actions and restrictions on UNMEE, which have drastically reduced any meaningful operational capacity for the mission and will have, if they are sustained, implications for UNMEE’s future. The Security Council recalls its demand, expressed in resolution 1640 (2005), that Eritrea reverse such restrictions and provide UNMEE with the access, assistance, support and protection required for the performance of its duties. “In this regard, the Security Council intends, with the Secretariat, to review promptly all options for UNMEE’s deployment and functions in the context of its original purpose, capacity to act effectively and the different military options available. “The Security Council’s view on the fundamental issue of implementation of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission’s delimitation decision remains unchanged and the Council emphasizes the urgent need for progress in implementation of the EEBC’s decision.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2005/62. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council will remain actively seized of the matter.