Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week that the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) would be forced to relocate from Eritrea if fuel restriction imposed by the Asmara Government were not lifted.
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the critical crisis facing the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) as a result of the stoppage of diesel fuel supplies to the Mission by the Government of Eritrea since 1 December 2007,” a spokesperson for Mr. Ban said 5 February in a statement.
The spokesman added that if fuel supplies are not reinstated by 6 February 2008, Mr. Ban would instruct UNMEE to begin relocating the Mission’s personnel and equipment from Eritrea.
At the same time Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has accepted that UNMEE relocates to Ethiopia on a temporary basis and not for operational activities but only for administrative purposes.