• UNMEE’s mandate comes up for renewal; Prime Minister Meles meets ambassadors of  Security Council members in Ethiopia

• The AU’s Peace and Security Commissioner in Mogadishu 

• Preparations for the AU Summit

• President Riyale of Somaliland visits the UK and US

• The Forum for the Alliance of Civilizations meets in Spain

• A sharp decline in child mortality

• The mandate of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) expires on 31 January, and the UN Security Council is now considering its future. Over the last few days, informal consultations have been taking place among some member states on preliminary draft resolutions for consideration by the Security Council. A formal Security Council meeting taking place later today will be preceded by a meeting of the countries providing troops to UNMEE. The Security Council will then be briefed by a senior member of the secretariat. This meeting will be followed by expert-level consideration of the draft resolution which is expected to be approved by the Security Council in the middle of next week.

The issue of fuel supplies for UNMEE will be high on these agendas following the decision of the Government of Eritrea to stop all diesel fuel for UNMEE. The UN Secretary-General has written to the Eritrean President asking him to reconsider this move. The Secretary-General emphasized that unless Eritrea immediately allows UNMEE to replenish fuel supplies or import from its own reserves in Ethiopia or from the United Nations Mission in Sudan, he might be forced to take steps to start the withdrawal of UNMEE. The Secretary General has himself also written to the Security Council over this ‘drastic measure’, and other recent actions by Eritrea, including its rejection of the offer of his good offices to assist the two parties to implement their legal obligations and normalize their relations. His letters appear to show considerable frustration with the continued obstructions imposed by the Eritrean Government. It mirrors Ethiopia’s own letter of Notification to Eritrea on its material breaches of the Algiers Agreements.  

The Secretary General this week also submitted his latest Report on Ethiopia and Eritrea to the President of the Security Council (S/2007/40). Dated 23.1.2008, it covers events since his previous report at the beginning of last November. It details the further deployment of Eritrean forces inside the demilitarized Temporary Security Zone, in violation of the Algiers Agreements. It notes further deployment of Eritrea military forces and tanks, of military training taking place inside the zone, and the building of fortifications and defenses in the zone. It itemizes 17 new camps being set up, as well as new checkpoints, 21 new bunkers and new trenches in the Central Sector. The Secretary-General notes a stoppage of UNMEE officials at gun point and the arrest of UNMEE personnel. There is a brief reference to Ethiopian military activities south of the Temporary Security Zone. The Secretary-General noted that Eritrea has continued to maintain all previous restrictions on UNMEE and, as he reported in his letter to the Security Council, also imposed fuel restrictions on the Mission. The ban on the use of helicopters remains, depriving UNMEE of critical capacity to carry out emergency medical evacuation. Eritrea also continues to refuse to accept UNMEE personnel from the USA and Canada and certain European countries.  

The Secretary General repeats that the primary responsibility for resolving the border dispute and normalization of relations lies with the parties and his offer of good offices remains available. He also underlines the obligation of both parties to comply with the Algiers Agreements and the resolutions of the Security Council. In this context, he reminds both parties of the Security Council resolution 1767 (2007) which among other things demands that Eritrea immediately withdraw its troops and heavy military equipment from the Temporary Security Zone and reverse, without further delay or preconditions, all restrictions on UNMEE movements and operations to allow the Mission to effectively carry out its mandate. The Secretary-General reiterates his serious concern about Eritrea’s stoppage of fuel for UNMEE, and the probability that this will mean the immobilization of Mission operations and enforce a relocation of staff and equipment. Because of this grave development, the Secretary-General makes an unusual recommendation to the Council: a one month technical roll-over of the mandate of UNMEE, rather than the more usual recommendation of a six month extension.  

It is not the first time that Eritrea’s actions have provided a serious threat to the integrity of UNMEE. In 2005, Security Council Resolution 1640 (2005) starts: “…Deeply deplores Eritrea’s continued imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of UNMEE and demands that the Government of Eritrea reverse, without further delay or preconditions, its decision to ban UNMEE helicopter flights, as well as additional restrictions imposed on the operations of UNMEE, and provide UNMEE with the access, assistance, support and protection required for the performance of its duties”. The resolution goes on to expresses the Council’s determination to consider further appropriate measures, including those available under Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations, in the event of the failure of Eritrea to respond to this demand. The Council has continued to avoid resolute action against Eritrea despite Eritrea’s defiance over the last three years. This inaction has encouraged Eritrea not only to hold UNMEE hostage but also to intensify its actions and threats against Ethiopia. Eritrea has practically demolished the Temporary Security Zone and deployed military forces and heavy equipment throughout the buffer zone. It continues to refuse any peaceful dialogue with Ethiopia and has rejected all initiatives of the Secretary General to assist the two countries resolve their dispute, demarcate the boundary and normalize relations.   

Last weekend, Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin addressed letters to both the President of the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General. These reiterated Ethiopia’s full acceptance of the Delimitation Decision of the 13 April 2002, and its desire to demarcate the border according to international norms and practices. The letters also noted that the EEBC’s view of “virtual demarcation” had no status in international law, was not binding and could only be considered a “legal fiction. In his letter to the President of the Security Council, Foreign Minister Seyoum stressed that the most relevant factor now was that Eritrea was in breach of the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and had completely violated the demilitarized Temporary Security Zone. He noted that Ethiopia now expected the Security Council to exercise its authority to take appropriate measures against the party in violations of the provisions of the ceasefire agreement as provided in Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. Ethiopia believes that the Security Council should now take resolute action to ensure respect for the Peacekeeping Mission, and restore the integrity of the zone in accordance with the Algiers Agreements and its resolutions. The implications of giving in to Eritrea’s behavior are far-reaching in terms of the respect that UN peacekeeping missions deserve from concerned parties and from UN member states. [The full text of the letters of Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin to Mr. Giadlla A. Ettalhi, President of the Security Council, and to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General (18.1.2008)can be seen on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. ] 

On Monday, Prime Minister Meles met with a dozen ambassadors and heads of mission of the representatives of the Permanent and non-Permanent members of the UN Security Council. Those attending included the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council as well as the ambassador of Libya, which is holding the UN Security Council chairmanship this month; the Head of the UNMEE office in Addis Ababa was also present. The Prime Minister said he wished to underline and clarify Ethiopia’s objections to the EEBC’s concept of “virtual demarcation”, pointing out that it was regarded by international lawyers and many diplomats as “legal nonsense”. He emphasized that the Security Council’s role in the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process was to ensure the observance of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone set up under the Algiers Agreements; and UNMEE was set up to monitor these and support the demarcation process. The Prime Minister noted that the Security Council had, so far, failed to act over the continuous violation of the de-militarized Temporary Security Zone, the restrictions on UNMEE or over Eritrea’s deliberate and long-term disruption of the integrity of the Algiers Agreements. The Security Council, in fact, was still apparently reluctant to act on clear-cut issues where it has a specific mandate under the Algiers Agreements.  The Prime Minister wondered if this might be because some Security Council members thought that Eritrea was so belligerent and unpredictable that it needed to be treated with excessive care. However, he pointed out, the effect of Security Council inaction had been to penalize Ethiopia and in fact to appear to amend the Algiers Agreements unilaterally, without reference to either of the two parties involved. Ethiopia, he emphasized, had not violated the Algiers Agreements; Eritrea, however, has, and repeatedly so. Ethiopia as required under international law had given notice to Eritrea that it might be forced to withdraw from the Algiers Agreements, but this, the Prime Minister added, was a precautionary measure, and so far it had chosen not to take any such action. Nor would it do so unless pushed into a corner.  The Prime Minister underlined yet again that Ethiopia would not respond to Eritrean provocation unless Eritrea launched a full-scale invasion. However, the Prime Minister noted, any endorsement of the EEBC’s “virtual demarcation” would mean that Ethiopia, very reluctantly, would have no alternative but to withdraw from the Algiers Agreements and cease co-operation with UNMEE. The Prime Minister repeated, yet again, that Ethiopia has fully accepted the Delimitation Decisions of the EEBC. It had not responded to Eritrea’s complete violation of the TSZ despite the threat it posed to Ethiopia, nor to the continued provocations of Eritrean efforts to destabilize Ethiopia and the wider region, the arming and equipping of numerous terrorist groups. It would continue to co-operate with UNMEE.   

• Somali Prime Minister, Nur Hassan ‘Adde’ and his cabinet flew into Mogadishu on Sunday, officially relocating the new government from Baidoa to the capital. On arrival, the Prime Minister said he was ‘very happy’ to be in the capital, and stressed his interest to work to restore security in the city and promote national reconciliation. He said the policy of the government would be to establish a multi-party system that could transform the government, based on the 4.5 clan formula, to a new system providing greater equality for all. In an interview with the BBC Somali Service, two days earlier, Prime Minister Nur Hassan reiterated the government’s position: to establish an environment of peace, to engage in genuine reconciliation and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need. He repeatedly appealed to the opposition to accept reconciliation which he described as a must for Somalia, adding that the conclusion of such a process would be the departure of any foreign troops from Somalia. Answering questions from listeners, demonstrating his commitment to national reconciliation, the Prime Minister said he would even step down if this would help provide a solution.

On Wednesday, the AU Peace and Security Commissioner, Ambassador Said Djinnit, also visited Mogadishu to express the support of the AU to Prime Minister Nur Hassan’s new government. Ambassador Djinnit, who was accompanied by the Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson, Mr. Nicholas Bwakira, also paid tribute to the troops of the AU’s Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). He encouraged the government to pursue reconciliation and the political process through an “inclusive dialogue”. He said the AU intended to facilitate a road map for Somalia. This would include four components: the political process, the peace support and security mission, the humanitarian aspect and a capacity building component for the Transitional Federal institutions. This, Ambassador Djinnit said, would be the base for a commitment by the international community to Somalia. Ambassador Djinnit told reporters that his goal was to persuade the UN Security Council to re-establish the UN peace-keeping mission in Somalia which was abandoned thirteen years ago. The Security Council, he said, is in charge of international peace and security, and must assume its responsibility vis-à-vis Somalia. He said he thought the UN should be flexible in looking at Somalia and decide as early as possible on the deployment of a peacekeeping operation to take over from the AU. Somalia will be one of the top items of the agenda at the AU summit next week, and the Peace and Security Council’s recent Report on Somalia will be discussed in detail. Two days earlier, a 12 person UN fact-finding mission had visited Mogadishu to assess the security situation. The delegation held talks with Prime Minister Nur Hassan, the Army Commander and the Mayor of Mogadishu. Discussion covered the problems facing AMISOM troops and the possible logistics of deploying UN troops.  

In a press conference on Sunday, Mohammed Dheere, the Mayor of Mogadishu, appointed eight months ago, said the municipal government has made progress in cleaning roads as well buying vehicles and other equipment for government officials and departments. Nearly 2,000 employees now worked for the Benadir administration which includes Mogadishu; 900 were employed in the Department of Public Works, and another 550 worked directly for the Mayor and the district commissioners. The Mayor did not mention that some government officials have been killed since he took office, most deliberately assassinated by al-Shabaab, but he made it clear that he felt his administration had managed to make the city ‘a bit safer’.    

• Next week will be a very full week for the African Union, leading up to the 10^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government (31 January - 2 February).  The election of the Chairperson of the Union will take place on 31 January, while the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, and of the Commissioners, will be on the next day, 1 February; the appointment of members of the Peace and Security Council will take place the same afternoon. It is the turn of the East African region to assume the Chairmanship. Sudan and Tanzania are candidates. The theme of the Summit is “Industrial Development of Africa”. Other agenda items will include the Report of the Executive Council on the Audit of the Union, and the Report of the Ministerial Committee on the Union Government, as well as the Report of the Peace and Security Council and the State of Peace and Security in Africa, the Report of the Chairperson of the NEPAD Implementation Committee, and the Report on AIDS Watch Africa. Some 45 Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers will be in attendance. The Summit is preceded by the 12^th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (of Foreign Ministers, 27-29 January) and by meetings of the African Peer Review Mechanism, the ministerial panel on the pre-selection process for commissioners (27 January), the Ministerial Committee on Candidates (28 January), the Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the Sudan (29 January), the 18^h Summit of the NEPAD Heads of State (30 January), the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (30 January – 2 February), and the Committee of Ten Heads of State on United Nations Reforms (1 February). Other meetings that will take place during the Summit include  an IGAD foreign ministerial consultation (28 January) and an IGAD Heads of State and Government meeting (1 February).

• On Monday, Prime Minister Meles had talks with the Somaliland President, Dahir Riyale Kahin. President Riyale was on his way back to Somaliland after week-long visits to the UK and the USA. President Riyale said his talks with Prime Minister Meles focused on bilateral and regional issues of common interest: he described them as cordial and fruitful. In London, President Riyale met with the British Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown as well as with officials of the Home Office and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Somaliland. A Foreign and Commonwealth press release said that the two sides agreed to stay in close contact and to continue their co-operation to help build on the progress made in Somaliland in recent years. President Riyale also made a week-long visit to the United States where he met with State Department officials including Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, as well as officials of USAID, the Department of Defense and the National Security Council. President Riyale’s delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullahi Mohamed Duale, as well as the Ministers of Health and Justice and other officials.

• UNICEF has announced that Ethiopia, with the second largest population in sub-Saharan Africa, has managed to reduce its under-five mortality rate by an impressive 40 per cent over the last fifteen years. UNICEF praised Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's leadership for reforms that have led Ethiopia to achieve one of the fastest declines in child mortality rates. Ethiopia, UNICEF said, is "a powerful example of how strong political leadership can bring about positive change for child survival". Launching UNICEF's State of the World's Children 2008, the country representative in Ethiopia, Mr. Bjorn Ljungqvist, said "Ethiopia is at the centre of a new wave in child survival revolution". The challenge now, he added, is to achieve sustainable results and deliver on all key child survival opportunities. He noted the importance of building on this foundation and sustaining recent progress. The Minister of Health, Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, emphasized that the fundamental guiding principle of Ethiopia's maternal and child health care program was that no Ethiopian child need die of preventable causes. Dr. Tewodros described the primary health care strategy being implemented since 2004 as an integral part of Ethiopia's development drive, and he gave credit to the Prime Minister for his efforts and his political commitment to reducing child mortality. The achievement came through national programs targeting major childhood killers, rigorous immunization campaigns and the anti-malaria effort including the distribution of over 20 million treated bed-nets in malaria prone areas. Extreme manifestations of malnutrition, a leading cause of child mortality, have been brought under control through the Enhanced Outreach Strategy and Targeted Supplementary Feeding for Child Survival. Out of 30,000 trained health extension workers, over 24,000 have been trained in child and maternal health care and deployed in rural health posts across the country providing access to primary health services for the bulk of Ethiopian rural population. Dr. Tewodros reiterated Ethiopia's commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the health sector.

• A high level Ethiopian Government delegation participated at the annual Forum for the Alliance of Civilizations which was held in the Spanish capital, Madrid, last week. The delegation was headed by Dr Fasil Nahum, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister with the rank of Minister, and Ato Tesfaye Yilma, acting head of the European and American Desk. The Forum was established in 2005 at the initiative of Spain and Turkey, and under the auspices of the United Nations. It has the objective of improving understanding and cooperation among different cultures and religions, and over 60 countries have so far associated themselves with the initiative. This first annual meeting was attended by high level Government representatives, prominent personalities, academics, civil society and religious leaders from various parts of the world, including His Holiness, Abuna Paulos, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In a statement to the Forum, Dr Fasil shared the experiences of Ethiopia, explaining that tolerance amongst different cultures, races and faiths had always been fundamental to the Ethiopian way of life: the strength of the country, with its more than 80 different ethno-linguistic groups, lay in the diversity of its people. He noted that the recognition and accommodation of diversity had been clearly articulated in the Federal Constitution of Ethiopia, providing the basis for the right to self-determination and the establishment of regional state governments. Ethiopia, he pointed out, was known as a place where the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have lived together in harmony for millennia. Ethiopia, he added, was an exemplary case of religious tolerance. The second annual meeting of the Forum for Alliance of Civilizations will be held in Turkey next year.

• The All-Africa Leather Fair 2008 opened yesterday in Addis Ababa with over 170 local and foreign companies taking part.  At the opening, Prime Minister Meles said the Government would continue to deploy efforts to put Ethiopia at the centre of the African leather market. Assistance would be made available to enhance competitiveness of the sector in the global market to boost revenue from exports. The sector has shown remarkable growth in the past few years and the Prime minister attributed this to government policies and strategies which had encouraged investors to engage in the sector. The Fair, the Prime Minister said, could also serve as a forum for exchanging views on the utilization of a major resource for Africa. The Trade and Industry Minister, Ato Girma Biru, said that Government support to investors in the sector had contributed significantly to raise the income generated from sale of processed and semi-processed leather products. He said there were plans to raise the quantity of the processed leather products to about 60 percent of leather exports. The Ethiopian Leather and Leather Products Institute is taking the opportunity of the All Africa Leather Fair to stage a Millennium fashion show for Leather Clothes.

       Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

                     Ministry of Foreign Affairs