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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 Cameroon and
His Excellency President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, in the presence
of the Secretary-General of the United Nations held its first meeting
in Yaounde, Republic of Cameroon, on 1 and 2 December 2002.
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The
meeting of the Mixed Commission was attended by members of the
Commission from Cameroon, led by Mr. Amadou Ali, the State Minister in
charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of Cameroon and from
Nigeria, led by Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), former Minister of Justice
and former High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom. The
Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, chaired the meeting.
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The
meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and discussions were
conducted in an open, constructive and transparent manner. Both
delegations expressed their commitment to sustain the spirit of
peaceful and good neighbourly relations between their two countries,
which had characterized the discussions between President Biya and
President Obasanjo in Paris on 5 September 2002 and in Geneva on 15
November 2002.
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The
delegations further expressed their determination to build upon and
consolidate the progress made during these summits, as well as at the
meeting of the Cameroon-Nigeria Joint Commission held in Abuja on 30
September 2002.
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The Mixed
Commission decided that the working documents for its meetings shall
consist of the ICJ judgment of 10 October 2002, the press release
issued following the Paris Summit on 5 September 2002, as well as the
Joint Communiqué adopted at the Geneva Summit on 15 November 2002 and
other documents that may be adopted at the meetings of the Commission.
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The Mixed
Commission also decided that it would be necessary for a joint
assessment mission of the Commission to undertake a visit to the
affected areas in order to better understand and appreciate the
practical problems it would have to deal with and resolve in the
course of the implementation of its mandate, as defined in the Joint
Communiqué of 15 November 2002.
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ln the
meantime, the parties reiterated their undertaking to respect the
rights of the populations of the other country residing in these
affected areas and to afford them full protection in accordance with
international.
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The Mixed
Commission decided to establish a Sub-Commission which would be
responsible for the demarcation of the land boundary between the two
countries. The Sub-commission shall be composed of legal experts and
cartographers, from the two parties and the United Nations. It shall
meet before the end of January 2003 to prepare a small scale map
indicating the boundary and to consider the nature and characteristics
of the maps that need to be prepared for the demarcation. On the basis
of the presentation by the Sub-commission, the Mixed Commission will
decide on the work plan of the Sub-commission.
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The Mixed
Commission agreed to consider the assignment of United Nations
military liaison officers in both countries at a later date.
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With
regard to confidence-building, the Mixed Commission reaffirmed the
measures agreed upon at the Paris and Geneva Summits.
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In
particular, the Mixed Commission decided that the Lake Chad Basin
Commission should be re-energized at the earliest possible date. The
assistance of the international community will be sought to support
the work-plan of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
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The Mixed
Commission also agreed that both Governments should proceed with the
project relating to the improvement of the Mamfé-Eyumojok-Ekok-Mfum-lkom
road and related socio-economic projects.
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The Mixed
Commission decided that, henceforth, it shall meet on the first
Tuesday every two months, on the understanding that it may adjust the
timing of each particular meeting, should circumstances so require.
Special meetings of the Commission maybe convened, if necessary, by
the Chairman upon consultation with the members of the Commission.
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The Mixed
Commission agreed to hold its next meeting in Abuja, Federal Republic
of Nigeria, on 4 and 5 February, with a possible extension to 6
February 2003.
