The President of the Red Cross, Cornelius Sommaruga, said that 1999 would mark important anniversaries of international conventions related to humanitarian law. He pledged his organization's determination to campaign for the protection of the victims of conflicts. For us, as this highly significant year begins, our main concern, our priority of priorities is to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and thus guarantee that the victims of conflicts, in fact, enjoy the protection to which they are entitled. Members of the Security Council have reiterated their concern over the continuing military build-up along the common border between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the implications of this buildup for renewed hostilities. Following a briefing from the Secretariat, Council members called upon both sides to exercise reason and restraint and to maintain their commitment to a peaceful resolution.
Council members welcome Ethiopia's acceptance of the agreement.
Council members welcome also the OAU's efforts to respond fully to Eritrea's request for clarifications to the proposal and Eritrea's engagement with the OAU process. In Geneva, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed the decision to suspend the economic sanctions imposed on Burundi in 1996. In a statement the Secretary-General expressed the hope that the decision taken by Burundi's neighbours at the summit held in Arusha Tanzania, would contribute to strengthening the peace process in Burundi. He called on all parties to apply the necessary wisdom and spirit of compromise to put an end to the civil war in Burundi and to allow the population to put all its efforts into reconstruction and the development of the country. The decision to suspend the sanctions against Burundi has also been welcomed by the United Nations World Food Programme.