Communiqué
adopted at
the twenty-second meeting of
the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission
established
pursuant to the Joint Geneva communiqué of 15 November 2002
*
Abuja, 20 June 2008
1. The
Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, which was established pursuant to the
Joint Communiqué adopted at the meeting held on 15 November 2002 in Geneva
between His Excellency President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroon and
His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo then President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, in the presence of Kofi Annan then Secretary General of the United
Nations, held its Twenty-second Ordinary Meeting in Abuja on 19 and 20 June
2008. His Excellency Ambassador Said Djinnit, Special Representative of the
Secretary General of the United Nations chaired the deliberations of the
Mixed Commission in the presence of His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister,
Amadou Ali of Cameroon, and His Excellency Prince Bola Ajibola (CFR) of
Nigeria, who led the Cameroonian and Nigerian Delegations respectively.
2. The
Mixed Commission considered and adopted the report of the Twentyfirst
Meeting of the Sub-Commission on Demarcation, which was held on 16 and 17
June 2008. The Mixed Commission approved the field assessment programme for
Phase 3C, to be undertaken by the Joint Technical Team from 18 October 2008.
It further approved the terms of reference for a field mission to be
undertaken by the Sub-Commission on Demarcation during December 2008 with a
view to finding a solution to the difficulties encountered during Phase 3A
of the field assessment. The Mixed Commission further urged the Parties to
do their utmost to keep up with the schedule for the implementation of
future field assessment missions.
3. The
Mixed Commission examined and adopted the report of the Thirteenth Meeting
of the Working Group on the Maritime Boundary held on 18 and 19 June 2008 in
Abuja. Cameroon and Nigeria agreed that information will be handed over by
Nigeria to Cameroon on the Nigerian offshore installations in Cameroonian
territorial waters in keeping with the Minutes of the meeting held at
Greentree on 12 June 2006. Cameroon and Nigeria also agreed to provide
information to the United Nations on areas immediately adjacent to the
maritime boundary where concessions, licenses or contracts have been awarded
or concluded. Presentations made by the Expert of the United Nations on
experiences in cross border oil and gas cooperation, such as unitization,
earned praise from the Parties. Cameroon and Nigeria urged the United
Nations to take the necessary steps to continue to provide the services of
this Expert to the Mixed Commission.
4. The
Mixed Commission noted with satisfaction the Report of the Seventh Field
Visit to the Bakassi peninsula by the Observer Group Team. While commending
the Team, the Commission reminded all interested parties to remain mindful
of the needs of the affected populations of both countries and the
protection of their rights.
5. The
Mixed Commission invites its Chairman to take all necessary measures in
consultation with the concerned parties with a view to prepare the practical
modalities for the peaceful withdrawal and transfer of authority from the
Zone in the Bakassi Peninsula to be implemented on 14 August 2008 in
accordance with the Greentree Agreement of 12 June 2006.
6. In light
of the events which occurred on 9th June 2008, Cameroon and Nigeria agreed
on the need to coordinate their efforts and to strengthen their cooperation
with a view to enhancing security around the Bakassi peninsula.
7. Both
parties agreed on the need to resume the work of the Cameroon-Nigeria Joint
Commission during which issues relating to consular and economic relations
would be reviewed.
8. The
Mixed Commission considered the issue of affected populations. It commended
the Governments of Cameroon and Nigeria for the efforts deployed to address
the humanitarian needs of the concerned populations. It agreed with a
proposal by its Chairman to strengthen coordination efforts of the United
Nations in Cameroon and Nigeria to work out, with the backing of donors,
programmes in support of each country’s endeavors to simultaneously
contribute to relief projects throughout the Bakassi peninsula and to assist
with the resettlement of the affected populations of both countries.
9. The
Mixed Commission expressed satisfaction with the presentation made by the
Representative of the African Development Bank on the Nigeria- Cameroon
Multinational Highway project, which it regarded as a concrete milestone in
the development of economic cooperation and the strengthening of good
neighbourly relations between the two countries. It took note of the African
Development Bank’s call upon Cameroon and Nigeria to address the issues of
harmonisation of laws, regulations and standards governing the use of
commercial vehicles as well as movement of goods and persons between the two
countries.
10.
Cameroon and Nigeria accepted a proposal from the Mixed Commission’s
Chairman to convene a retreat to review the progress achieved and the
challenges faced in the process as well as to discuss the lessons learned
from the Mixed Commission in the field of peaceful dispute settlement.
11. The
Twenty-third meeting of the Mixed Commission shall take place in Yaoundé on
09 and 10 October 2008 with the possibility of extension to 11 October 2008.
