Eritrea Requests Security Council to Reschedule President Isaias’s Address

Eritrea has requested the United Nations Security Council for an alternative date for President Isaias’s address to the Council, citing the “extremely short notice” it was given as well as the need to make necessary travel arrangements.

Eritrea had formally requested the Security Council to grant an audience to President Isaias on 24 October 2011. After being held up by the objection of the United States for over five weeks, the Security Council informed Eritrea at the end of the working day on Wednesday that it had scheduled the President’s for Monday. The fact that Eritrea received the Security Council’s notification on Thursday meant that it had only one working day to complete preparation for the trip. The President and his delegation had also not received visas to the United Stated as late as Friday afternoon and no information on when these visas would be available.

Two years ago sanctions against Eritrea were rushed through the Security Council during the festive Christmas period. The United States is now working on a repeat, going to the extent of begrudging the Head of State the time to have a rightful hearing before the Security Council.

Eritrea has therefore called on Security Council members to reaffirm their support for the participation of President Isaias in the Council’s deliberations, as there is no justifiable reason to rush a decision that will have incalculable consequences on the peoples of Eritrea and the Horn of Africa.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
02 December 2011