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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0827/01 2612307
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 172307Z SEP 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4947
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000827 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PBTS UNSC DJ ER
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI-ERITREA: UNSC WANTS GOOD OFFICES MISSION 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UNSC members backed the Secretary-General's 
proposal to renew his offer of a good offices mission in 
order to encourage a negotiated solution to the 
Djibouti-Eritrea border impasse.  Many members joined the 
U.S. in criticizing Eritrean actions but all agreed on the 
need for dialogue and continued Security Council engagement. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) Africa I 
Division chief Joao Honwana told the Security Council on 
September 17 that the UN's fact finding mission to 
investigate border clashes between Djibouti and Eritrea was 
hampered by Eritrea's refusal to cooperate with the 
investigation or grant visas to the UN mission.  In contrast, 
Honwana praised Djiboutian authorities for facilitating a 
site visit to the border region and granting meetings with a 
wide range of officials, including the president and prime 
minister. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Despite Eritrea's obstruction, Honwana said the 
mission was able to make a number of key judgments.  He 
confirmed that Djiboutian forces had complied with the 
Council's call, issued in a 12 June PRST, to withdraw its 
forces to their pre-conflict positions, while Eritrean forces 
had not.  Honwana also reported high expectations in the 
region, and particularly in Djibouti, that the UN would take 
an active role in seeking a peaceful solution to the dispute. 
 He concluded by recommending that the SC use "all means at 
its disposal" to persuade Eritrea to withdraw its forces and 
reiterating the recommendation that the Secretary-General 
renew his offer of a good offices mission to help defuse 
tension and initiate dialogue between the two sides. 
 
SC members criticize "unacceptable" Eritrean behavior 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) France spoke first, criticizing recent Eritrean 
statements on the border dispute as showing "no sign of 
open-mindedness" and reaffirming France's intention to work 
through bilateral security agreements to maintain Djibouti's 
defensive capabilities.  France agreed with the proposal to 
pursue a good offices mission and advocated taking advantage 
of the Eritrean foreign minister's attendance at the UNGA to 
begin these efforts.  Amb. DiCarlo spoke for the U.S., 
praising Djibouti's restraint and cooperation in response to 
the current crisis, regretting Eritrea's failure to engage 
and supporting the SYG's proposal for a good offices mission. 
 The UK welcomed a good offices mission as well, stating that 
"Eritrea's behavior is unacceptable."  Russia said it 
supported high-level international mediation in the conflict, 
and called on both parties, "particularly Eritrea," to 
withdraw forces and negotiate. 
 
¶5. (SBU) South Africa regretted Eritrea's failure to 
cooperate and gave their support to a high-level political 
intervention, including a good offices mission by the SYG. 
Croatia criticized Eritrea's lack of cooperation and backed a 
good offices mission.  Vietnam regretted Eritrea's refusal to 
engage and said that conflict resolution was impossible if 
the parties involved did not show goodwill.  Costa Rica 
supported the idea of a good offices mission and accused 
Eritrea of "defying" the international community.  Should 
Eritrean obstinacy continue, Costa Rica said that the Council 
should consider further measures, such as referring the 
dispute to the International Court of Justice or inviting the 
Eritrean PermRep to an informal SC meeting in order to 
explain Eritrea's defiance.  Panama said it was necessary to 
protect Djibouti, "the threatened party," and asked the EU, 
as the only international actor to have successfully engaged 
Asmara on this issue, to brief the Council on the outcome of 
its talks with Eritrea. 
 
¶6. (SBU) China did not single out Eritrea for criticism, but 
proposed "enhanced communication" between the SC and the 
parties and urged both Eritrea and Djibouti to settle their 
differences through negotiation. 
 
Libya, Italy, others link conflict to Ethiopia-Eritrea 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Libya regretted Eritrea's refusal to cooperate but 
said it considered the dispute with Djibouti a result of the 
SC's "procrastination" in dealing with the Ethiopia-Eritrea 
dispute.  Italy likewise said that the Ethiopia-Eritrea 
dispute was the "main source of instability" in the region 
and that an integrated, consistent approach -- including 
demarcation of disputed borders -- was necessary in order to 
resolve outstanding issues.  Italy supported a good offices 
mission and engagement during UNGA, and offered to put its 
historical and technical knowledge of regional conflicts at 
the Council's disposal.  Belgium praised Djibouti for its 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000827  002 OF 002 
 
 
restraint and regretted Eritrea's obstruction, but said that 
in their view resolution of the Djibouti-Eritrea dispute 
would likely be contingent on resolution of Eritrea's dispute 
with Ethiopia.  Indonesia said that the Security Council 
needed to "address the underlying issue" of the 
Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute.  Indonesia also urged the Council 
to consider referring the Ethiopia-Djibouti dispute to 
arbitration, claiming that Eritrea had respected the results 
of previous arbitration decision vis-a-vis Yemen and 
Ethiopia. 
 
Khalilzad