UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday called on both Eritrea and Ethiopia to implement the arrangements for the demarcation of the boundary.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Annan welcomed the outcome of the meeting of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission convened in London on Friday.

He was pleased to hear that the parties participated in the meeting constructively, and encouraged by their agreement to arrangements for the demarcation of the boundary, which the Commission delimited in April 2002, to be resumed.

The secretary-general hoped that this positive development will allow the Commission's decision to be implemented without further delay.

He urged the parties to cooperate fully with the Commission and with the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) for this purpose, and also to carry out their full obligations to facilitate the work of UNMEE.

Meanwhile, Annan reiterated that the United Nations stands ready to provide the necessary support to facilitate the demarcation process.

He firmly believed that full and prompt demarcation of the border is a central element in the overall peace process and can be a key to its early and successful conclusion, with the establishment of normal peaceful relations between the two countries.

Source: Xinhua