H.E. Mr. Jose F. Moraes Cabral
Permanent Representative of Portugal to the UN
New York
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p[email protected]
[email protected]
Phone: 1-212-759-9444 (Ext. 902, Ext. 903, Ext. 912)
Fax: 1-212-588-0217 & 1-212-355-1124

Excellency,

As your Excellency may be aware, the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia was resolved through legal means, but the Ethiopian government refused to comply with the final and binding demarcation decision issued by the independent international boundary Commission. Ethiopia still occupies areas awarded to Eritrea.

It was hoped that the United Nations Security Council would take measures to implement the decision, but it did not for reasons that are very difficult to comprehend. The lack of action from the Security council has allowed Ethiopia to defy the treaty it signed and it has contributed to the suffering of Eritreans who have to endure many years of military service without any resolution in sight in order to defend Eritrea. And the sudden appetite of the security Council to impose sanctions on Eritrea for a reason that is making little sense to the Eritrean communities has also emboldened Ethiopia to engage lately in a campaign for war against Eritrea that will further endanger the peace and security of the region.

I wish to appeal to your Excellency's sense of fairness by removing the sanction imposed on Eritrea and to also hold Ethiopia accountable for its defiance of international law and for its reckless behavior in the the region, inclusing its military intervention in Somalia.

With High Respect,

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H.E. Mr. Paulo Portas
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Portugal
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Phone: 351-213-946-000
Fax: 351-213-946-070

Excellency,

It is over a year and half since the UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Eritrea on the basis of allegations in relation to Somalia and Djibouti.

Eritrea has always believed any dispute with Djibouti could be resolved bilaterally. On that basis, both Eritrea and Djibouti have agreed to address it bilaterally through the mediation efforts of the Government of Qatar. On Somalia, there is no evidence that Eritrea is supporting any "extremist" group in Somalia. Unless the Monitoring Group again embarks on fabrication of evidence as it did in 2006 about the phantom Eritrean soldiers in Somalia, there is no justification to maintain the sanctions on Eritrea.

I appeal to Your Excellency to annul and repeal the sanctions imposed on Eritrea. I trust your work is guided by incontrovertible evidence free from any political pressure coming from certain quarters that have a hidden political agenda in the region.

With High Respect,