YouSaid · the spoken record

Dileita

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19
first
2008-06-24
most recent
2008-06-24
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1
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un-security-council

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  1. “I would add that, if the situation of extreme tension were to continue because of the disdainful attitude of the Eritrean authorities, who have turned a deaf ear to all expressions of goodwill, the latest being a proposal for mediation by the President of the Republic of Yemen, His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Ali Sallah, which was rejected by the Eritrean authorities, for who the only option remains war. We truly hope that Eritrea does not misjudge the determination of Djibouti and the indignation and growing impatience in the face of its tactics and its aggressive behaviour. In conclusion, my Government is prepared to cooperate with the Security Council and the Secretary- General in their efforts to resolve this unfortunate unilateral military adventure, which merits the Council's urgent, serious and great attention.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  2. “Clearly, neither of these two options can be contemplated by our Government. The Security Council, in a word, must be aware of the danger of inaction, which would be appeasing a bellicose and unpredictable leader. It would be, in fact, ill-advised, through negligence or lack of attention, to let this situation remain as it is. Action by the Council to prevent a resumption of fighting between the armed forces, which are now within firing range of each other, would be, we feel, wiser and more realistic. That would prevent an escalation of violence and widespread conflagration, the results of which could not at all be predicted. Unfortunately, this scenario is well known to the peoples of our region. The only certainty would be a spiral of war and tragedy with great loss of human life.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  3. “Indeed, since the Council's 12 June condemnation, there have been no positive developments, and there has been no sign of goodwill regarding a peaceful settlement of the dispute from the Eritrean authorities. Quite the contrary: as I address the Council, whereas our army has withdrawn several kilometres since 12 June, Eritrean troops have once again infiltrated the territory of Djibouti. This massive incursion into our country by Eritrean troops, who are present all along our common border without any valid justification should not be taken lightly by the Council; it must be given the importance it deserves. For lack of any strong international intervention based on dialogue and the disengagement of forces, we are faced with a dilemma: choosing between the status quo and war.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  4. “As the Council is already aware, the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern part of the Red Sea is a strategic strait separating the Arab peninsula from East Africa and is a key passage for international trade and for bringing oil to Europe and Asia. Moreover, analysts today agree that control of the strait will be vital in this conflict. All of our initiatives to prevent conflict have been in vain. Although military hostilities have ceased since 12 June, the consequences would be disastrous if there were to be no reasonable and proportionate response from the Security Council and the international community in the face of this explosive and dangerous situation, which is developing rapidly.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  5. “Furthermore, we note the persistent defiance with regard to all the good offices missions that have been undertaken, including the attempt at mediation with the head of State of Eritrea by Mr. Louis Michel, European Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, following the summit meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which yielded no better result than previous initiatives. For its part, the Republic of Djibouti is entirely ready to honour its responsibilities, as it has always done, and will continue tirelessly its efforts to engage in dialogue with a view to establishing lasting peace 5 and stability throughout the region and throughout the world. Peace and the security of shipping throughout the region are the key stakes in this conflict.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  6. “They confirm our initial View of a settlement of the crisis, that the use of force cannot, in any way, be an alternative to dialogue or diplomacy. We reaffirm our confidence in the capacity of the Council, consistent with its functions and power under the Charter, and we express the hope that a settlement of the dispute with Eritrea will come about by peaceful means in accordance with the principles of justice and international law. The failure of the authorities of that country to honour all of the obligations they have undertaken under the Charter is clear, because the use of force and the violation of our territory are a reality. No pretext can exempt Eritrea from its obligations to the international community.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  7. “In this regard, I would like to thank the members of the Council, who have heeded our appeal and have acted in an expeditious way, as required by the urgency and seriousness of the situation. The preservation of human life and the cessation of the unjustified hostilities - which are also unjust for the peoples of Djibouti and Eritrea - are and remain an absolute priority for my Government. My country cannot conceive of a scenario of indefinite impasse. That would surely try our patience, our morale and our resources. We welcome the Council's presidential statement (S/PRST/2008/20) unequivocally condemning Eritrea's military action against Djibouti in Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island, as well as the statements issued by all regional and subregional organizations.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  8. “Finally, we have come before the Security Council through our letters dated respectively the 5 and 9 May and 11 June 2008. While all of our attention and all of our efforts have been devoted to a quest for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, Eritrea has rejected all mediation and has persisted in denying the existence of any problem. Of course, at the same time, it has taken advantage of this situation to make further territorial gains and to strengthen the positions of its army. All of these manoeuvres were clearly designed to unleash a war that we would like to avoid until the last minute, as is proven by the attack of 10 June. My country was precipitously forced into a fratricidal war which we detest.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  9. “More particularly, our regional policy is fundamentally based on respect for good neighbourly relations and non-interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region as well as neutrality, friendship and cooperation with a View to economic development for the benefit of all the peoples in the region. Guided by these values, we have taken all necessary steps in order to find a diplomatic way out of the current crisis with Eritrea in order to avoid being drawn again into a conflict that we found and still find to be useless. Djiboutian diplomacy has been very active bilaterally as well as multilaterally. Mediation has been proposed by friendly countries and by regional organizations, such as the African Union and the League of Arab States.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  10. “The Republic of Djibouti will not at all hesitate once again, if necessary, to exercise its right to legitimate self- defence accorded under the Charter to any country in order to guarantee its national sovereignty. The basic pillars and principles of Djiboutian diplomacy in the region and throughout the world are no longer a secret. As a long-standing haven a peace in a troubled region, our country has been a refuge for all the victims of fratricidal wars in the region and is in a good position to assess the value of peace and the practice of tolerance.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  11. “But any arguments from the Eritrean authorities fall short when one examines the situation on the ground because the Djibouti military forces have indeed been attacked solely by Eritrean forces; we have not seen any other force involved on the field of battle. Moreover, all the reasons given remain inadmissible to our Government and for our entire country, which is prepared to defend in every way possible its political and territory integrity. Our country is not, in principle, a country with an aggressive culture; even less so are our people bellicose. However, we should not be seen as being weak, hesitant, or capable of intimidation.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  12. “As for the Eritrean authorities, they are indeed remaining mysterious as to their true objectives and are hiding behind a total denial of the dispute, or when they implicitly deign to admit the existence of the dispute that they make unfounded and unreasonable allegations by referring to external interference that would supposedly be the cause of all the tensions in the region. Of course, we believe that this attitude of denying reality is irresponsible since the media throughout the world have reported an outbreak of hostilities, and armed conflict has in fact been initiated by the Eritrean armed forces.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  13. “Finally, we cannot pass over in silence the fact that the attack of the Eritrean army took place immediately following the signing in Djibouti of an agreement between part of the opposition in Somalia and the Somali Transitional Government under the aegis of the United Nations. At this stage, we are entitled to ask legitimate questions about the role supposedly played by the Asmara authorities and the use that they have made of the Somali conflict which, in our view, should not be used as a tool.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  14. “But also we think that the Asmara authorities are pursuing their confrontation with Ethiopia through a conflict with Djibouti, through which transits most of the merchandise headed for Ethiopia. Thus, it is without question an attempt to regionalize the conflict. The Council is not at all ignorant of how much the impasse in the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea constitutes a major source of instability in the Horn of Africa, in particular for peace in Somalia. The international community must therefore bring all its weight to bear until Eritrea begins to take into account the minimum international standards involved in relations between nations.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  15. “Furthermore, it is different as to substance because while all previous attempts were more or less avowed claims of an important part of our Djiboutian territory, the current motivations are still obscure and suspect in the eyes of Djiboutian authorities. In the absence of a clear explanation on the part of the Eritrean leaders, our Government has strong suspicions that they are guided by greed caused by the avowed ambition of Djibouti to become a regional cross-border maritime hub with the construction of a new modern port and infrastructure projects. Thanks to the confidence of investors and our position in this area of the Red Sea which is highly strategic for world navigation, Djibouti has embarked upon the path of growth and development in order to become a regional trading centre.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  16. “We have never and will never be part of an anti-Eritrean front. Quite the contrary, we have always tried to maintain pragmatic relations with that country. We believe that the international community should be well informed of the ins and outs of this conflict because the situation on the ground remains of great concern. The current crisis is very different from the preceding ones for several reasons. First of all, it is different in its form because, for the first time, Eritrean troops have not only violated Djiboutian territory, but they have occupied it and have even begun construction work on our soil.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  17. “The relations between Djibouti and Eritrea since the independence of Eritrea in 1993 have encountered difficulties that, thus far, have been overcome thanks to a determination to settle any misunderstanding through dialogue. The conflict which today has already caused many casualties since Eritrean troops attacked positions of the Djibouti army on 10 June, forcing it to defend its territory, is deserving of the attention of the members of this important United Nations body, the mandate of which is the maintenance of international peace and security, pursuant to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. I am not here simply to make unfounded allegations against Eritrea; it would not be a good idea to make such a long trip with the intention of discrediting Eritrean leaders.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  18. “3 I am pleased to meet again with members of the Council whom I met during their visit to Djibouti within the framework of inter-Somali peace talks, which produced the peace accord that has given rise within the international community to great hope and that is a solid basis for a lasting peace in Somalia. I would also like to state how pleased we have been, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and myself, to have spoken with most of members of the Council in a climate of confidence and brotherhood since our arrival here in the New York. May I remind members of the Council of the origins of this latest crisis in the Horn of Africa, which has had more than its share of war, destruction and regression of all types, and which we could have, in our view, done well without.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source

  19. “Mr. Dileita (Djibouti) (spoke in French): First of all, I would like to present to the Council my Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, who has travelled here with me today. At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for the manner in which you have been leading the work of the Council and for your delegation's efforts last week throughout the consultation process, designed to draw the attention of the members of the Security Council to the great urgency of the conflict between Djibouti and Eritrea. I would also like to extend my thanks to Mr. Joao Honwana for his briefing to the Council today.”

    2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source