CAMEROON-NIGERIA MIXED COMMISSION MEETINGS

Final Communiqués

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NINTH MEETING

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All Opening Statements

Communiqué adopted at the ninth meeting of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission
established pursuant to the Joint Geneva communiqué of 15 November 2002

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7-8 April 2004

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 their Excellencies Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, held its ninth meeting in Yaoundé on 7 and 8 April 2004.   Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, chaired the deliberations of the Commission while Senior Minister Amadou Ali of Cameroon and Prince Bola Ajibola (CFR) of Nigeria headed their respective delegations. The meeting was open, constructive and cordial.

2.      The Mixed Commission noted the progress so far made by the Sub-Commission on Demarcation since the 8^th meeting.  It expressed satisfaction that the invitation for the Expression of Interest contained in Contract 1 (satellite imagery for mapping) has now been posted on the UN website, while it eagerly awaits the early posting of the invitations for the Expressions of Interest for Contracts 2, 3, and 4.  Similarly, it expressed satisfaction that over 50% of the SPOT 5 Satellite imagery required for the demarcation exercise has been identified and could be acquired soon.  Nigeria announced that it had already remitted its additional contribution of US 1.75 millions to the Trust Fund while Cameroon indicated that efforts are almost completed for the remittance of its own contribution of 1.75 Million U.S. Dollars.  The Commission expressed satisfaction that by the end of April 2004, both Parties would have paid a total sum of US six million dollars to the Trust Fund, which should ensure appropriate progress in its demarcation mandate.

3.      The Chairman briefed the Mixed Commission on the outcome of the first tripartite mission , carried out from 5 to 13 March 2004 to London, Paris, Washington D.C., and New York, aimed at mobilizing further financial support for the demarcation process, as well as galvanizing further political and diplomatic support for the remaining tasks of the Mixed Commission .   The delegation met with officials of the World Bank in Washington DC, where the preparedness to finance community development projects in the border areas was confirmed.  The delegation also met with a number of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York.  Finally, the Head of delegation met with the United Nations Secretary-General and senior United Nations officials, who renewed the pledge of their organization’s support to the work of the Mixed Commission.

4.      The Mixed Commission welcomed and expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom for the contribution of one Million Pounds Sterling  to the UN Trust Fund for Demarcation.   It calls on other friends of Cameroon and Nigeria to contribute generously to this Trust Fund.

5.      As agreed at the Eighth meeting of the Mixed Commission, the Sub-Commission on Affected Population, as well as members of the Sub-Commission on Demarcation, undertook a field visit to the Land Boundary and to the Bakassi Peninsula, respectively from 15 February to 1 March 2004.  The Mixed Commission considered and adopted the reports of the Sub-Commissions respectively following these visits.

6.      The Mixed Commission discussed the issue of the Protocol on the Protection of the Rights of the Affected Population.  The Nigerian delegation informed of its preparedness to refer this issue to the Cameroon-Nigeria Joint Commission, in consideration of the reaction of the Cameroonian delegation to its original proposal.   The Mixed Commission noted this and agreed that this subject will no longer be on its agenda.

7.      The Mixed Commission received the list of representatives of both Cameroon and Nigeria on the Working Group on the Maritime Boundary and the Observer Personnel for the Lake Chad.  It decided that the Working Group on the Maritime Boundary shall hold its first meeting from 21-23 April 2004 in Abuja, while the Observer Personnel will meet on a date to be worked out by the Secretariat.  The Mixed Commission also decided it will undertake tripartite field visits to the Land Boundary and the Bakassi Peninsula at dates to be worked out by the Secretariat.

8.      The Mixed Commission considered the Nigerian proposal for a revision of the Working Calendar, as well as Cameroon’s response, against the background of the difficulty to keep up with the dates and activities earlier scheduled in the Working Calendar adopted on 6 August 2003.  It consequently adopted a review which is annexed herewith.  It also decided to establish a Working Group on Withdrawals and Transfers of Authority in both the Land Boundary and the Bakassi Peninsula which will implement the decision of the Mixed Commission in accordance with this review.  The Working Group will consider all practical matters related to the withdrawal of civil administration, and military and police forces, as well as the transfer of authority in these two areas, including the deployment of the Mixed Commission Observer Personnel.

9.      The Mixed Commission decided that the process for withdrawal and transfer of authority in the Land Boundary will commence on 15 June and terminate on 15 July 2004. It also decided that the process of withdrawal and transfer of authority on the Bakassi Peninsula will commence on 15 July and terminate on 15 September 2004.