UN Security Council discusses possible lifting of Eritrea sanctions

UNITED NATIONS - The Security Council is discussing the possible removal of sanctions against Eritrea given the latest positive developments in the Horn of Africa, said Swedish ambassador to the United Nations Olof Skoog, president of the Security Council for July, on Monday.

"That issue is being discussed," Skoog told reporters after closed-door Security Council consultations on Eritrea and Somalia.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the announcement that Eritrea and Somalia would work together to foster regional peace and stability. They reiterated their readiness to support the region in these efforts, Skoog told reporters.

Asked whether the council actually discussed the possible removal of sanctions against Eritrea, Skoog said: "That issue is being discussed. As I said in my statement on behalf of council members that there is readiness to support the region in these efforts. I think you should understand with that that there is readiness to move forward on that issue as well."

Ethiopia requested the lifting of UN Security Council sanctions on Eritrea after the two countries signed a historic Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship on July 9 and agreed to normalize relations. Ethiopia has offered to help Eritrea and Djibouti to resolve their border dispute and normalize relations as well.

The Security Council imposed sanctions in 2009 on Eritrea, including an arms embargo, for its destabilizing role in neighboring countries, particularly its alleged support for al-Shabaab militants in Somalia and its territorial dispute with Djibouti.