The UN Security Council decided on Wednesday to terminate the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) mandated to monitor a cease-fire between the two Horn of Africa countries.
Unanimously adopting a Belgium-drafted resolution, the 15-member body called on "both countries to cooperate fully with the United Nations including in the process of liquidation of UNMEE."
The council demanded that the two countries "show maximum restraint and refrain from any threat or use of force against each other, and to avoid provocative military activities."
The United Nations has already relocated the 1,700-strong mission from Eritrea, accusing the country of taking obstructive moves to prevent UNMEE from carrying out its operations.
The world body blamed Eritrean for imposing restrictions on the UN mission, including cutting off its fuel supplies.
Vietnam's UN ambassador Le Luong Minh, the council president for this month, said that the mission will be officially terminated on Thursday, the last day of its current mandate.
In Wednesday's resolution, the council regretted that Eritrea's obstructions towards the UN mission and recalled the council's previous condemnation of the country's lack of cooperation.
The council urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to work towards achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement of their border dispute and normalizing their relations.
In June 2000, after two years of fighting in a border dispute, Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a cessation of hostilities agreement following proximity talks led by Algeria and the Organization of African Unity.
In July, the Security Council set up UNMEE to maintain liaison with the parties and establish a mechanism for verifying the cease-fire. In September 2000, the council authorized UNMEE to monitor the cessation of hostilities and to help ensure the observance of security commitments.
Source:Xinhua
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