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 Cameroon and His
Excellency President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, in the presence of His
Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
held its third meeting in Yaounde on 2 and 3 April 2003.
2.
The Prime Minister, Head of government of the Republic of Cameroon, Right
Honourable Peter Mafany Musonge, delivered a keynote address at the
opening ceremony of the meeting. The meeting was attended by members of
the Commission from Cameroon, led by His Excellency Mr. Amadou Ali, the
Minister of State in charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of
Cameroon, and from Nigeria led by His Excellency Prince Bola Ajibola (CFR),
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. The
meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, while discussions were
conducted in an open, constructive and transparent manner.
3.
The Mixed Commission considered and approved a preliminary report
submitted to it by the Sub-Commission on demarcation of land boundary,
pursuant to paragraph 5 of the communiqué adopted by the Mixed Commission
at its meeting in Abuja on 4 and 5 February 2003. The Mixed Commission
called upon the Sub-Commission to continue to expedite its work and make
every effort to submit a comprehensive report to the next meeting.
4.
The Mixed Commission considered and approved the terms of reference of the
Sub-Commission on affected populations established in accordance with a
decision taken at the February 2003 meeting of the Mixed Commission in
Abuja. The first meeting of this Sub-Commission will take place as soon as
the composition of its membership is finalised. In drawing up its agenda
and programme of work, the Sub-Commission shall be guided by its mandate
as stipulated in paragraph 7 of the Abuja communiqué of 5 February, and
further clarified by paragraph 4 of the above terms of reference. The
chairman of the Mixed Commission shall inform the parties of the name of
the chairperson who will lead the work of the Sub-Commission, as well as
the date and venue of the first meeting.
5.
The Mixed Commission received reports from its joint team, which visited
N'djamena on 13 Match 2003 and met the Executive Secretary of the Lake
Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). It took note of the vital importance
attached by the LCBC to the project for water transfer from the Obangui
Basin to the Lake Chad Basin. In this respect, it supports steps to secure
financing for that project.
6.
The Mixed Commission was informed about the potential benefits that the
upgrading of at least one of the cross-border roads in the Lake Chad Basin
would bring to the population of the region. The members of the Mixed
Commission also took note of possible LCBC projects, which could have
special relevance for the goals of the Mixed Commission.
7.
On the issue of the Extraordinary Summit of the LCBC, called for in the
communiqué of Abuja on 5 February 2003, discussions are ongoing regarding
the timing, modalities and agenda of such a summit.
8.
The members of the Mixed Commission agreed that an informal early warning
system should be put in place in order to alert the relevant local
authorities and affected populations about any potential natural or other
disasters.
9.
The Mixed Commission was also briefed about a visit by its joint team to
the Mamfe-Eyumojock-Ekok-Mfum-Ikom-Abakaliki road, and looks forward Io
receiving progress reports on the project aimed at upgrading it. The
importance of environmental protection in the execution of the project was
underlined. The Mixed Commission further stressed the importance of
conservation projects involving the rainforest and endangered species, in
particular primates, in the vicinity of the road, as well as other social
and economic projects.
10.
Other cross-border projects were identified both in the Lake Chad Basin
area and in other border areas between Cameroon and Nigeria, the
implementation of which could benefit the population. The Mixed Commission
recommends that they be studied in the context of the Nigeria-Cameroon
Joint Ministerial commission and that this commission meets as soon as
possible.
11.
The Mixed Commission noted with appreciation the information provided by
the chairman relating to a pledge from the European Union to earmark some
US$200,000 for the needs of the Mixed Commission. The chairman expressed
the hope that this would encourage further donations from the parties as
well as other donors.
12.
The Mixed Commission will hold its next meeting in Abuja on 9, 10 and
possibly 11 June 2003. It will be preceded by a meeting of the
Sub-Commission on demarcation of land boundary on 5, 6 and 7 June 2003.
