United Nations Radio

The Security Council has again expressed concern about Eritrea's ongoing obstruction of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The Council said the obstruction had reached a level where it was undermining the mission's mandate and had compelled the mission to relocate. In a presidential statement read by South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, (photo), the Council emphasized that it was ready to assist the parties to overcome the current stalemate but that it was up to the two sides to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

"The Security Council stresses, in accordance with its repeated statements, that the primary responsibility for achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the border dispute and normalizing their relations rests with the parties themselves."

Last week, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Jean Marie Guehenno told reporters that "we are reaching the end of what peacekeeping can achieve given Eritrea's announcement that it no longer supports the UN peacekeeping presence". Mr. Guehenno noted that peacekeeping can only make a difference if the countries involved have made a political commitment.

Diane Bailey, United Nations Radio.

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