US concern over weapons embargo on Ethiopia and Eritrea

The UN Security Council has for the first time officially welcomed the peace agreement reached between Ethiopia and Eritrea in December after a delay linked to an attempt by the side of the US to lift the embargo on sending weapons to the countries.

In a statement that followed an open meeting held on Friday, the Security Council encouraged the two countries to implement the agreement which was signed in Algeria on December 12, 2000 following a mediation by the African states and the US.

Diplomats at the Security Council wanted to release this statement weeks before but the administration of the former US President Bill Clinton was persistent that the Security council will first lift the embargo imposed on sending weapons for the two countries as a good intention and confidence gesture in the peace agreement.

But Holland, Canada who deploy peace keeping forces along the borders between Ethiopia and Eritrea besides the UN secretary General Kofi Annan expressed they do not agree to lift the embargo rapidly after the end of the border war which lasted for two years. The embargo which was imposed in May 2000 will expire in May this year.