India demands UN action against Eritrea helicopter ban

Oct 21, 2005 (UNITED NATIONS) — India has firmly warned the UN Security Council members that their failure to stop Eritrea from putting hurdles in the way of the peacekeeping mission overseeing its cease-fire agreement with Ethiopia would compromise the integrity of the mission and jeopardize the safety of the personnel.

According to the the Idian PTI new sagency, at a closed door meeting between troop-contributing countries and the Council on Thursday 20 October, Indian UN Ambassador Nirupam Sen told the members that India has the largest contingent of more than 1,500 military personnel and it is not acceptable to make a highly professional and disciplined army fight with both hands tied to the back and then blame it when things go wrong.

Eritrea on 4 October prevented all UN helicopters from flying in its airspace, reducing the capacity of about 3,300 strong UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea to monitor military movements, resupply troops and conduct emergency medical evacuations.

Reminding the Council members that Eritrea has ignored their pleas to lift the ban, Sen said the mission’s efficiency has degraded by more than 55 per cent in terms of surveillance, logistics, safety and evacuation capability necessary in view of ongoing de-mining operations and also to airlift sick and the injured.

Sen demanded that the Council give a definite timeline to Eritrea to lift a ban on helicopters and make it clear that it cannot use an extraneous instrument for a collateral political or territorial purpose if it jeopardizes the integrity of the mission and the safety of the troops.

The mission currently has 3,293 troops, including 214 military observers, and is headed by Force Commander Maj-Gen Rajender Singh.

(PTI/ST)