30 April 2008 - Security Council says Eritrea undermined UNMEE’s mandate
On 30 April 2008, the President of the UN Security Council said Eritrea's ongoing obstruction of UNMEE had undermined the basis of the Mission’s mandate. It said it would, in the light of consultations with the parties, decide on the terms of a future UN engagement and on the future of UNMEE. The Security Council said it was prepared to help the sides break the stalemate, but warned that the two countries were responsible for reaching a “comprehensive and lasting settlement” of their border dispute and for normalizing their relations.
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http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26525&Cr=unmee&Cr1=
22 April 2008 - Top peacekeeping official says Ethiopia, Eritrea must resolve dispute
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, said
Ethiopia and Eritrea were primarily responsible for settling their border dispute, and must recommit to the Algiers Agreements of 2000. On 22 April 2008, Eritrea announced that it no longer supported UNMEE. Mr Guéhenno said peacekeeping can only make a difference if the countries involved have made a political commitment. “Now we are reaching the end of what peacekeeping can achieve,” he said.
11 April 2008 - 481 military personnel remain in Mission area
On 11 April 2008, 481 UNMEE military personnel remained in the Mission area (164 in Eritrea and 317 in Ethiopia). Civilian personnel in the Mission area include 147 international civilians, 203 local civilians and 62 UN Volunteers.
7 April 2008 - Secretary-General sets out four options for UNMEE
In a special report on UNMEE, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlined four options for the future of the Mission. The first option was for the Mission to resume unchanged if Eritrea lifts all restrictions and resumes fuel supplies to UNMEE. The second option was to terminate the Mission, while another option was to deploy a small observer Mission to the border area. The final option was to set up liaison offices in Addis Ababa and Asmara.
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Secretary-General sets out four options for UN mission
13 March 2008 - Security Council calls for Eritrea’s full cooperation
On 13 March 2008, the Security Council called for Eritrea’s full cooperation in the temporary relocation of UNMEE’s personnel and equipment.
11 March 2008 - Over 700 peacekeepers relocated out of Eritrea
By 11 March 2008, more than 700 peacekeepers (397 Jordanian and 305 Indian troops) had been temporarily relocated to their home countries from Eritrea.
4 March 2008 - First group of peacekeepers temporarily relocate out of Eritrea
The first group of peacekeepers flew out of the Eritrean capital Asmara on 4 March 2008, as part of the temporary relocation of Mission personnel. Fifty peacekeepers from the Jordanian battalion of UNMEE relocated to Amman.
3 March 2008 - Secretary-General’s Report says Eritrean restrictions ‘unacceptable’
In his Special Report on UNMEE to the Security Council on 3 March 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “The restrictions imposed by the Eritrean authorities on UNMEE are unacceptable and in breach of the fundamental principles of peacekeeping”.
3 March 2008 - UNMEE completes regrouping of peacekeepers in Eritrea
After more than a week of repeated blockages by Eritrean forces, UN peacekeepers in Eritrea completed regrouping to the capital, Asmara, in preparation for their planned temporary relocation across the border to Ethiopia.
16 February 2008 - Regrouping of UNMEE in Asmara
UNMEE began regrouping its personnel and equipment in Asmara on 16 February 2008, after obstructions by Eritrea hindered the temporary relocation of UNMEE across the border to Ethiopia. Regrouping in Asmara was designed to speed up the temporary relocation of UNMEE.
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Obstructions continue
No obstructions to regrouping in Asmara
11 February 2008 - Temporary relocation of UNMEE
When the deadline for the resumption of fuel supplies to UNMEE in Eritrea passed without compliance, the U.N. Secretary-General ordered the temporary relocation of UNMEE personnel from Eritrea to Ethiopia. Further complicating the situation, the commercial company contracted to provide food for UNMEE’s troops in Eritrea said it was no longer able to do so.
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Secretary-General calls on Eritrea to cease obstruction
Security Council condemns lack of Eritrean cooperation
6 February 2008 - Deadline for Eritrea to resume fuel supplies to UNMEE
The U.N. Secretary-General said that if the Eritrean authorities did not reinstate fuel supplies by 6 February, he would instruct UNMEE to begin relocating personnel and equipment from Eritrea, to avoid immobilizing the Mission and endangering the safety and security of UN personnel.
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Secretary-General’s statement on fuel crisis
30 January 2008 - Security Council extends UNMEE’s mandate for six months
On 30 January 2008, Security Council resolution 1798 extended UNMEE’s mandate until 31 July 2008. The Council noted with grave concern the critical fuel levels impeding UNMEE’s work, and demanded that Eritrea immediately resume fuel shipments to UNMEE or allow UNMEE to import fuel without restrictions.
23 January 2008 - Secretary-General concerned about ‘crippling’ fuel restrictions
In his Report on Ethiopia and Eritrea on 23 January 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was concerned that the fuel cut would immobilize the Mission within a few weeks, forcing UNMEE to relocate staff and equipment. Mr. Ban said the restrictions were so crippling that they required a Security Council decision on UNMEE’s future. He recommended that the Mission’s mandate have a one-month technical rollover while the latest developments were monitored and assessed.
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Secretary-General: border row must de-escalate
Fuel restrictions threaten UNMEE
1 December 2007 - UNMEE fuel supplies cut
Eritrea stopped all fuel allocations to UNMEE on 1 December 2007, hindering UNMEE’s Eritrean operations.
30 November 2007- Dissolution of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission
The twenty-sixth report of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission affirmed that the boundary automatically stands as demarcated by the boundary coordinates listed in the Annex to the EEBC Statement of 27 November 2006, and that the decision is binding on the parties. On 30 November 2007, the EEBC sent maps indicating the demarcated boundary points to the Permanent Missions of Ethiopia and Eritrea to the U.N. The EEBC said it had fulfilled its mandate.
30 January 2007 - Further reduction of UNMEE’s military component
On 30 January 2007, Security Council resolution 1741 further reduced UNMEE’s military presence from 2,300 to 1,700 military personnel, including up to 230 Military Observers.
27 November 2006 - Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission sets deadline
On 27 November 2006, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) statement said that if Eritrea and Ethiopia did not reach agreement on the placement of pillars on the border within the next twelve months, the boundary would automatically stand as demarcated by the boundary points identified in the Annex to the Statement. The mandate of the EEBC would then be considered fulfilled.
16 October 2006 - Eritrea inducts troops into the Temporary Security Zone
On 16 October 2006, some 1,500 Eritrean Defence Forces troops and 14 tanks entered the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) in Sector West, in violation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. UNMEE continued to report further inductions of troops and equipment in all sectors of the TSZ.
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Security Council urges Eritrea to withdraw troops from TSZ
31 May 2006 - UNMEE’s military presence reduced
On 31 May 2006, Security Council resolution 1681 approved the reduction of UNMEE’s military component from 4,200 to 2,300 military personnel. The number of military observers was increased from 220 to 230.
6 December 2005 - Eritrea expels 180 UNMEE international staff
Eritrea expelled 180 UNMEE international staff from the USA, Canada, and Europe, including the Russian Federation, on 6 December 2005. The staff were given 10 days to leave the country. UNMEE relocated them to Ethiopia.
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UN officials arrive in Eritrea
Some UN staff temporarily relocate out of Eritrea
5 October 2005 - Eritrea bans UNMEE helicopters
On 5 October 2005, Eritrea banned United Nations helicopters from flying in Eritrean airspace until further notice.
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Secretary-General calls on Eritrea to lift helicopter ban
Security Council discusses flight ban
14 August 2002 - UNMEE’s mandate broadened
The Security Council broadened UNMEE’s mandate on 14 August 2002 to include de-mining operations in support of demarcation. Under resolution 1430, UNMEE was also asked to provide administrative and logistical support for field offices of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission.
13 April 2002 - Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission announces decision
Both parties formally accepted the final and binding Delimitation Decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) on 13 April 2002. However, Ethiopia subsequently submitted a “Request for Interpretation, Correction and Consultation,” which was rejected by the EEBC.
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Decision regarding Ethiopia’s request for interpretation
18 April 2001 - Temporary Security Zone Established
Under the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, a 25 kilometre-wide Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) was established within Eritrea, to be monitored by UN peacekeepers. The TSZ is a neutral demilitarized zone stretching more than 1,000 kilometres from Djibouti to Sudan.
12 December 2000 - Algiers Peace Agreement
The Algiers Peace Agreement formally ending the two-year border war was signed by Eritrea and Ethiopia on 12 December 2000 in Algiers. Both countries agreed to terminate hostilities permanently; to refrain from the threat or use of force, and to respect and fully implement the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. The Algiers Peace Agreement established the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, a neutral body mandated to delimit and demarcate the border.
2 December 2000 - Establishment of Military Coordination Commission
As provided for in the Agreement of the Cessation of Hostilities, UNMEE established a Military Coordination Commission (MCC) to "coordinate and resolve issues relating to the implementation of the mandate of the Peacekeeping Mission and to deal with the military issues arising during the implementation period" with the Parties. The first of 37 meetings took place on 2 December 2000. The last meeting was held on 30 July 2006. The Commission provided the only platform for high-level officials from both countries to have direct contact on security-related issues.
15 September 2000 - UNMEE’s Peacekeeping Force Authorized
On 15 September 2000, Security Council resolution 1320 outlined UNMEE’s mandate and authorized the deployment within UNMEE of up to 4,200 troops, including up to 220 military observers.
31 July 2000 - Establishment of UNMEE
On 31 July 2000, Security Council resolution 1312 established the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) with a mandate to: establish and maintain liaison with the parties; visit the parties’ military headquarters; put into operation the mechanism for verifying the cessation of hostilities; prepare for the establishment of the Military Coordination Commission; and assist in planning for the future peacekeeping operation.
18 June 2000 - Agreement on the Cessations of Hostilities
The Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities was signed by Ethiopia and Eritrea on 18 June 2000 in Algiers, Algeria. The Agreement called for the establishment of a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission and provided for the creation of a Military Coordination Commission to facilitate dialogue between the parties on military issues.
26 June 1998 - Security Council resolution 1177
Security Council resolution 1177 requested the Secretary-General to provide technical support to the parties to assist in the eventual delimitation and demarcation of the common border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The resolution established a Trust Fund and urged all Member States to contribute to it.