UN urges sides to cooperate with border demarcation

The UN Security Council has called on Eritrea and Ethiopia to fully cooperate with the border demarcation process between the two countries. In a statement on Friday, Council President Jeremy Greenstock of the UK said the process was a "key benchmark" for lasting peace between the two countries. On 13 April, an independent Boundary Commission in The Hague issued a ruling on the Eritrea-Ethiopia border, following a bitter two-year border war which broke out in 1998. The sides were due to meet Commission officials in The Hague on Monday to discuss demarcation. The Security Council said the meeting was expected to "initiate full and effective cooperation by the parties in order to ensure an expeditious and orderly process". "Members of the Council intend to take early follow-up action to resolution 1398 [issued in March on the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process], taking into account any decisions taken in the 15 July meeting at The Hague," the statement said.