NAIROBI, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday commended the Sudanese parties for progress they have made in implementing the 2005 landmark peace accord and urged them to redouble their efforts on key goals such as elections and border demarcation.

    A statement from the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) said moving Sudanese north-south peace pact forward will require redoubled efforts.

    "Now, as implementation of the CPA enters another year, the milestones ahead ranging from elections and border demarcation to the launch of the DDR process will require the redoubled commitment of both the parties and the international community," it said.

    The Mission commended the parties to the CPA for their achievements to date including the maintenance of the ceasefire.

    "Accomplishments and challenges over the past year such as the conduct of the census and ongoing concerted efforts to restore normalcy in Abyei have reminded all of us of how vital partnership and mutual trust are to sustained and full implementation of the CPA and of how vital the CPA is to the peace process and to the people of Sudan," the Mission stated.

    The landmark peace agreement which was signed in Nairobi on January 9, 2005 ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan.

    The 21-year conflict between the Khartoum-based Sudanese Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) devastated a significant part of the vast African nation and took a heavy toll on its people.

    More than 2 million people died, 4 million others were uprooted and some 600,000 people sought shelter beyond Sudan's borders as refugees before the war was brought to an end.

    "Now, as implementation of the CPA enters another year, the milestones ahead ranging from elections and border demarcation to the launch of the DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) process will require the redoubled commitment of both the parties and the international community," UNMIS said.

    It said it stands ready to continue assisting the parties and the people of Sudan in fulfilling these commitments and achieving full and effective implementation of all aspects of the CPA.