缅北禁地

A range of international sanctions imposed against Eritrea nearly a decade听ago,听were unanimously lifted by the Security Council on Wednesday, four months after the signing of听an historic听peace agreement with Ethiopia in July.

It wasby 缅北禁地Chief Ant贸nio Guterres at the time as an example of 鈥渁 wind blowing in the direction of peace鈥�, and relations have consistently improved since then. As part of the agreement, Ethiopia pushed for the Security Council to lift the sanctions, which concerned arms embargoes, travel bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions focusing on certain groups and individuals.

The Eritrean Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr. Amanuel Giorgio, hailed the lifting of the sanctions as marking the end of a difficult period for Eritrea and the region: 鈥淥n this historic day I am humbled to congratulate the people of Eritrea, who have endured persistent existent pressure鈥�Eritrea as a nation is committed to work with all its neighbours. The peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and the tripartite agreement between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, mark the beginning of a new dawn,鈥� he said, adding that 鈥渋t is the time to redouble efforts and work closely with neighbours to build a region at peace with itself.鈥�

The United Kingdom was the听听(the country which chaired the drafting process) of the resolution to lift sanctions, and the UK鈥檚 Ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, said that the resolution recognizes improvements in regional peace and security: 鈥淣ot only is it a very important step for the countries in the region, I think it sends a helpful wider signal to the international community that, if the right steps are taken, that sanctions can be lifted.鈥�

Speaking on behalf of Ethiopia, Taye Atske Selassie Made, Permanent Representative of his country to the UN, welcomed 鈥渦nreservedly鈥� the adoption of the resolution which, he said, his country fully supports.

鈥淲e are supporting this resolution today at a time when a major and historic development is unfolding in the Horn of Africa鈥�, he said. 鈥淭he breakthrough arising from the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea is already producing unprecedented and far-reaching positive consequences and is significantly changing the political landscape of the Horn of Africa and beyond.鈥�

The Security Council meeting also reaffirmed the arms embargo on Somalia, and requested that the 缅北禁地Secretary-General conduct a technical assessment of the embargo in force against the country.