S/PV.5908 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. Members of the Council have before them document S/2008/381, containing a letter dated 9 June 2008 from the Permanent Representative of Djibouti addressed to the President of the Security Council. 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 expresses its strong concern about the serious incidents that occurred on 10 June along the frontier between Djibouti and Eritrea, which led to several deaths and dozens of wounded. “The Security Council condemns Eritrea’s military action against Djibouti in Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island. “The Security Council calls upon the parties to commit to a ceasefire and urges both parties, in particular Eritrea, to show maximum restraint and withdraw forces to the status quo ante. “The Security Council urges both parties, in particular Eritrea, to cooperate and engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter peacefully and in a manner consistent with international law. “The Security Council welcomes the efforts of the African Union, the Arab League and those States that have offered their assistance and calls upon the parties, in particular Eritrea, to engage fully in efforts to resolve the crisis. “The Security Council encourages the Secretary-General urgently to use his good offices and reach out to both parties, as appropriate and in coordination with regional efforts, to facilitate bilateral discussions to determine arrangements for decreasing the military presence along the border and to develop confidence-building measures to resolve the border situation.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2008/20. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.