A guest post by Aletheia Kallos/MD:
i see ban [UNSG BAN Ki-Moon] has cut out the indignation & bluster
& is reduced to issuing warnings of the dangers of an improbable war
& the uncertainty of the fate of unmee has been institutionalized
& extended to fill out the present 6 month mandate
ending in july
from
http://www.maximsnews.com/news20080411unossgenglish10804110201.htm
ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: TERMINATING U.N. MISSION
COULD RESULT IN RESUMED HOSTILITIES
The Secretary-General’s latest special report on Ethiopia and Eritrea is out today as a document. In it, he says that after hearing out Security Council members, there are 4 options left to be considered …
First, there remains a chance to resume the Mission unchanged if Eritrea resumes fuel supplies and lift all restrictions on the Mission. Another option would be to terminate the mission, while a third option could leave a small observer presence in the border area to defuse tensions and report to the Council on the situation. A final option would include creating liaison offices in Asmara and Addis Ababa to maintain UN readiness to help the parties implement the ruling of the Boundary Commission, among other tasks.
These options are not ideal as they bear serious risks and would not resolve the dilemma created by Eritrean restrictions on the Mission. Terminating the Mission, for example, could result in a resumption of open hostilities.
As things stand today, the Secretary-General says that the only option likely to allow the UN to monitor the situation evenly seems to be the deployment of small observer missions either side of the disputed border. In conclusion, the Secretary-General says he will engage the parties on the four options and submit a further report to the Council before July 31 when the Mission’s mandate is due to expire. In the meantime, he advises the Council to consider sending a mission to the region to discuss issues related to the implementation of the Border Commission’s ruling… He also urges Eritrea and Ethiopia to end the stalemate and accept the assistance of the Security Council and his good offices and to respect the agreements they have signed.
also
http://daccess-ods.un.org/TMP/1216867.html
for some choice historical details
AND WITH AN UPDATE ON SUNDAY:
a few other angles lately too if wanted
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN09235319.html
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&scoring=n&q=eritrea+ethiopia+boundary&btnG=Search