Eritrean Mission to the UN

Excellency,

It has come to the attention of the delegation of Eritrea that a draft resolution initiated by some members of the United Nations is in circulation to the members of the Security Council, supposedly with the objective of bringing peace and stability to the Horn of Africa by whose sole purpose is to impose all kinds of sanctions on Eritrea.

The Government of Eritrea is disappointed to learn the basis under which the draft is being initiated and circulated. The draft text is regrettably based on unfounded assumptions and perceptions, and not on concrete evidences. The independent experts of the United Nations have not concluded their work on the alleged violation of the arms embargo on Somalia.


Yet, the decision to present a case not supported by evidence
shows that it is indeed a politically motivated move by the authors of the draft text in order to
exert pressure on Eritrea for extraneous objectives. Eritrea deeply regrets such acts that are contrary to the
principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations.

The draft resolution is based on unfounded accusations against Eritrea on the issue of
Somalia. Let me make the position of my Government clear. Eritrea does not favour or
support a military solution, as it is convinced that there can be no military settlement in
Somalia. Nor does, Eritrea favour one party as opposed to another. It does not work with one
against others. Eritrea firmly holds that a durable and sustainable solution requires the
participation of all key Somali actors in an inclusive political process. It has affirmed this
position in regional and international forums, specifically the most recent African Union
Summit in Tripoli, Libya, which endorsed the need for a political settlement as well as in
numerous bilateral meetings, including the Joint EU Mission on Somalia’s meeting with
President Isaias Afwerki, earlier this month. Furthermore, Eritrea has been engaging with key
countries and regional and international organisations in an effort to create an environment
conducive to an inclusive process.

H.E. Mr. Thomas Mayr-Harting
President of Security Council
United Nations
New York, NY 10017

The delegation of Eritrea also wishes to seize this occasion to stress the importance of the
final and binding demarcation decision that was awarded by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary
Commission. The matter cannot remain shelved in perpetuity if peace and stability is to take
root in the region. Not only is it important on its own merit, but it is at the heart of the
turbulent situation in the Horn of Africa, including the current difficult relations between
Djibouti and Eritrea.

For reasons outlined above, The Government of Eritrea urges the Security Council not to
ignore the real issue behind many conflicts in our region and to take concrete measures to
ensure that Ethiopia abides by its treaty obligations and international law and withdraws its
troops from sovereign Eritrean territories that it is illegally occupying.
The delegation of Eritrea further urges the Council to seriously and responsibly consider
the matter under discussion consistent with its mandate of maintaining international peace
and security.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and I would be
most grateful if the present letter could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Araya Desta
Ambassador, Permanent Representative