United Nations Security Council Resolution 1560 – Situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia

Resolution 1560 (2004)

The Security Council,

Reaffirming all its previous resolutions and statements pertaining to the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the requirements contained therein,including in particular resolution 1531 (2004) of 12 March 2004,

Stressing its unwavering commitment to the peace process, including throughthe role played by the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE),and to the full and expeditious implementation of the Comprehensive peace agreement signed by the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea (hereinafter referredto as “the parties”) on 12 December 2000 and the preceding Agreement on theCessation of Hostilities of 18 June 2000 (S/2000/1183 and S/2000/601, respectively,hereinafter referred to as the “Algiers Agreements”), and the delimitation decisionby the Boundary Commission of 13 April 2002 (S/2000/423), embraced by the parties as final and binding in accordance with the Algiers Agreements,

Recalling that lasting peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as in theregion cannot be achieved without the full demarcation of the border between theparties,

Noting with concern in this regard the lack of progress made in thedemarcation of the border, as reflected in the Fourteenth report on the work of theEritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission of 20 August 2004, which concludes thatunder the present circumstances the Commission is unable to progress withdemarcation activities,

Expressing its concern about Ethiopia’s ongoing rejection of significant partsof the Boundary Commission’s decision, and its current lack of cooperation with theBoundary Commission,

Expressing disappointment about the continuing refusal of Eritrea to engagewith the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea, whose good offices represent a concrete opportunity for both parties to move the peace process forward,

Recalling the recent increase in United Nations Peacekeeping activities and theneed to allocate peacekeeping resources in the most effective manner, and recalling in this regard the additional burden caused by the delays in the demarcation process,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General (S/2004/708) and fully supporting the observations made therein,

1. Decides to extend the mandate of UNMEE until 15 March 2005;

2. Approves the adjustments to UNMEE, including its presence andoperations, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report in paras. 13-18;

3. Calls upon both parties to cooperate fully and expeditiously withUNMEE in the implementation of its mandate, to ensure the security of all UNMEE staff, and to remove immediately and unconditionally all restrictions on and impediments to the work and full and free movement of UNMEE and its staff;

4. Takes note of positive developments in some areas of relations betweenUNMEE and both parties, welcomes in this regard particularly the recent decision by Ethiopia to allow a direct high-altitude flight route between Asmara and AddisAbaba without any deviation, urges Ethiopia and Eritrea to take immediate steps, inconsultation with UNMEE, towards implementing the direct flights between the twocapitals; and also in this regard calls upon Eritrea to reopen the Asmara to Barentroad;

5. Stresses that Ethiopia and Eritrea have the primary responsibility for theimplementation of the Algiers Agreement and the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission and calls upon both parties to show political leadership toachieve a full normalization of their relationship, including through the adoption offurther confidence-building measures;

6. Calls on the parties to cooperate fully and promptly with the BoundaryCommission and to create the necessary conditions for demarcation to proceed expeditiously, including through the payment of Ethiopia’s dues to the Boundary Commission and the appointment of field liaison officers;

7. Urges Ethiopia to show the political will to reaffirm unequivocally its acceptance of the Boundary Commission’s decision, and take the necessary steps toenable the Commission to demarcate the border without further delay;

8. Reiterates its full support for the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea, Lloyd Axworthy, in his efforts to facilitate the implementationof the Algiers Agreements, the decision of the Boundary Commission and normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two countries through his goodoffices, and emphasizes that this appointment does not constitute an alternative mechanism;

9. Calls on Eritrea to enter into dialogue and cooperation with the SecretaryGeneral’s Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea;

10. Decides to continue monitoring closely the steps taken by the parties inthe implementation of their commitments under the relevant resolutions of theSecurity Council and under the Algiers Agreements, including through the Boundary Commission, and to review any implications for UNMEE;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the situation closely, to review the mission’s mandate in the light of progress made in the peace process and changes made to UNMEE;

12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 5032nd meeting, on 14 September 2004.