To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of Eritrean co-operation with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, with particular respect to fuel supplies. (186867)

We are dismayed by Eritrea's refusal to resume fuel shipments to the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), or to allow it to import its own fuel. This refusal threatens UNMEE's ability to carry out its mandate. We strongly condemn Eritrea's actions in this regard.

Eritrea's action is in direct contravention of the demands of the UN Security Council (UNSC), as set out in paragraph seven of UNSC Resolution 1798, adopted unanimously on 30 January 2008, and the UNSC press statement of 4 February 2008. The UK strongly supports the UNSC's demands.

Our ambassador in Asmara emphasised the UK's condemnation of Eritrea and support for the UNSC's demands to the Eritrean Government on 14 February 2008. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, did the same with the Eritrean ambassador to the UK on 18 February 2008.