OPENING
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MIXED COMMISSION AND SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE
UNITED NATIONS, MR. AHMEDOU OULD-ABDALLAH
*
Abuja,
12 July 2004
Senior
Minister Amadou Ali, Head of the Cameroonian Delegation,
Prince Bola
Ajibola, Head of the Nigerian Delegation
Members of
the Diplomatic Community,
Members of
the Mixed Commission
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to thank the
leaders of the Cameroonian and Nigerian delegations for the encouraging
remarks they made on the collaborative work undertaken jointly by the three
parties to the Mixed Commission since its inception. The wisdom of the
guidance and advice they provide continuously to their respective teams,
were instrumental in making Cameroon, Nigeria and United Nations’ effort an
exemplary tripartite cooperation.
Today, we are gathered to prepare the
conditions for the celebration of a solemn and rare occasion. Two
neighboring countries, yours, are withdrawing their military, police forces
and civilian administration from each other’s territories. A peacefully
accepted and organized transfer of authority along the land boundary. This
date, as its companion date of 16 December 2003 in the Lake Chad Area, will
go down in the annals of your countries as a day when friendship and
cooperation won over mistrust and violence, and when promises of the future
prevailed over inherited fears of the past. Worldwide, this is a rare
exception in this decade of conflicts and crimes against humanity.
There is an additional specificity in our
undertaking. Unlike in other separations of authorities, here, each
withdrawal is monitored not by peacekeepers but by our own Mixed Commission
Observer Personnel. Drawn from different backgrounds and countries including
Cameroon and Nigeria, they add to the rarity of our process.
Like during the first withdrawal, this
transfer of authority is not a game where a winner takes all. Rather, it is
a win win situation for both Cameroonians and Nigerians. The adherence of
your countries to international law has already brought and will surely
continue to bring security at home and will further enhance their image and
prestige in the eyes of Africa and the international community at large.
This overall administrative operation and its subsequent legal and human
consequences, constitute an additional progress which heralds that our
future collaborative effort will also be as fruitful. In all confidence, I
can say that you made the right decision, at the right time and for the
right reasons.
Let us build on this hard won result with
effective protection of the rights of affected populations, with
strengthened cross-border exchanges and with more insurance that the line of
demarcation will not be a wall of separation but rather a space of intense
collaboration. Indeed, time has come for African borders to be areas of
cooperation not of confrontation. Consolidating each phase of our process
will enable us to look positively to the exalting ceremony, once the final
withdrawal and transfer of authority is fully completed this coming
September. And once we embark on the Maritime Boundary exercise including
its related economic and security issues.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Your two countries have been exchanging
territories peacefully. In itself, this is not a modest achievement. Equally
important, they also have been building and strengthening relationships
between populations, local states and the national governments. Over the
last eighteen months, thanks to the professional and human interaction
between the members of your two delegations, mistrust and misconceptions
were falling apart and you have built strong confidence amongst yourselves
and between your two nations. Presidential visits have taken place, new
Ambassadors have been accredited to Abuja and Yaoundé and the two capitals
are now considering the adoption of a treaty of friendship and
non-aggression.
These developments are indeed precursor to
the future Camegeria, the coming much closer institutionalized cooperation
between Cameroon and Nigeria. At the United Nations, we are proud to
continue to be your associate in this undertaking.
This progress has been achieved through the
hard work and dedication of the members of the Mixed Commission and thanks
to the generous support, in particular, of the authorities of the states and
provinces on your common border. On your behalf, I would like to recognize
and salute their hospitality and effectiveness. At all levels, remarkable
and continuous efforts were and are still made every single day to
reactivate and strengthen friendship between your states. The unflinching
backing the Mixed Commission enjoys from Presidents Biya and Obasanjo and
Secretary-General Annan remains the great asset of our undertaking.
Prince Ajibola and Senior Minister Amadou
Ali’s sound expertise in and deep knowledge of their respective countries
and of international affairs, constitute an additional valuable asset.
Though, daunting challenges lie ahead of us, past achievements should propel
us to complete our mandate according to the schedule we have publically and
freely adopted. Beyond the Bakassi Peninsula and the demarcating of the
Maritime Boundary, we have to complete the demarcation of the common border,
a long and costly exercise. With the commitment of your governments, the
confidence of your populations and the devotion of the members of the Mixed
Commission, I am convinced that we should carry out our mandate in
accordance with the agreed schedule.
However, let me make not a dream but a
concrete proposal. Reporting directly to their respective Heads of states,
the chairmen of your two delegations, supported by a small secretariat,
should continue, for the next three to five years, to oversee and address
all developments related to your common border. This proposal aims at
consolidating agreements reached through the Mixed Commission and at
establishing infrastructure, trade and environmental projects along the
border area for the benefit of the populations. Indeed, we have to nurture
and protect peace and stability.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This second withdrawal in just over six
months is of crucial importance as it consolidates our demarche and
validates our phase by phase approach. In addition, we will again dispel an
old stereotype which carries this idea: “Africans cannot bring African
solutions to African problems.” Let us continue to be a shining example to
our fellow Africans and to others, who have territorial disputes. Border
conflicts can and should be solved through peaceful means, thanks to
international law and above all, to good governance.
