Nordiskt uttalande om Etiopien och Eritrea

UttalandeUtrikesdepartementet 13 januari 2006
Laila Freivalds, Utrikesminister

I samband med det pågående nordisk-afrikanska utrikesministermötet i Benin 12-14 januari 2006, har de nordiska länderna gjort ett gemensamt uttalande om gränskonflikten mellan Etiopien och Eritrea (på engelska).
Statement by the Nordic Countries on the Ethiopia/Eritrea Border Conflict
In conjunction with the ongoing Nordic-African Foreign Ministers meeting in Cotonou, Benin, the Nordic countries make the following statement on the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.The Nordic countries are deeply concerned with the current stalemate and the increased tensions in the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which continues to hamper the potential for peace and security, development and poverty reduction in the two countries.
We urge Ethiopia and Eritrea to engage constructively in finding a sustainable solution to the conflict.The Nordic countries welcome the ongoing discussions in the UN Security Council as well as the Security Council resolution 1640, which calls on both parties to work, without preconditions, to break the current stalemate through diplomatic efforts.In particular we demand that Ethiopia accept fully and without further delay the final and binding decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission and take immediate steps to enable, without preconditions, the Commission to demarcate the border completely. At the same time we demand Eritrea to withdraw, without delay, its restrictions on UNMEE.
The Nordic countries urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to take full advantage of the active involvement of the international community to defuse tensions.
The Nordic countries - with its long history of close friendship with Eritrea and Ethiopia - express its commitment to continue to stay engaged with both countries.
Cotonou, Benin, 12 January 2006