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,
1June 2004
Honourable
Roland Oritsejafor, Minister of State for Defense,
Senior
Minister Amadou Ali, Head of the Cameroonian Delegation,
Prince
Bola Ajibola, Head of the Nigerian Delegation,
Members
of the Diplomatic Community,
Delegates
to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission,
Ladies
and Gentlemen.
Allow
me first to thank most sincerely our Guest of Honour, the Minister of
State for Defense for his presence among us and
the kind remarks he made about the work of the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed
Commission. We all are very sensitive to his important message and will do
our best to follow guidance thus provided.
I
would also like to thank my two associates Senior Minister Amadou Ali and
the Prince Bola Ajibola, the leaders of the Cameroonian and Nigerian
delegations for their opening statements. They are real assets to peace
and stability between the two countries.
In
addition, thanks to the cooperative spirit and dedication of
their members, the Mixed Commission and the various Sub-Commissions
have carried out their tasks in a satisfactory manner. In this connection,
I would like to acknowledge with appreciation the continuous and unabated
support we have enjoyed from the Governments of Cameroon and Nigeria
directly and through their provincial representatives.
It
has been my privilege to bring you up to date on the progress of the work
of the Mixed Commission
at each of our successive meetings. Accordingly, today, I
would like to highlight the most important accomplishments of the
Commission since our last meeting in April in Yaounde.
A
second tripartite visit to one of our development partners- the African
Development Bank (AfDB)
was undertaken in Tunisia from 11 to 12 May 2004. The Bank made a firm
commitment to assist in the financing of the rehabilitation of the
Enugu-Mutenguene road linking Nigeria and Cameroon. This road should
foster economic exchanges and help further friendship and understanding
between the two countries. In addition, the AfDB leadership has indicated
its willingness to consider positively requests for funds aimed at
environment related projects in the Cameroonian-Nigerian border areas.
Indeed,
the peaceful implementation of the ICJ ruling is bringing together a
number of friends and allies of peace. The World Bank accepted our
invitation to participate in our meetings as an observer. Invited, the
AfDB is also present in this room. Moreover, I would also like to inform
you that to address the situation of the affected populations in the Lake
Chad Area after the withdrawal and transfer of authority that had taken
place last December, I have asked a Joint-UNICEF-WFP Rapid Assessment
mission to undertook a visit in that region. The objective is to evaluate
the needs of the concerned communities. The report of the mission
indicates that there is a real need for basic amenities such as potable
water, clinics, schools, roads etc. I hope that both these UN entities
will be able soon to assist these populations.
Furthermore,
I am happy to note that Cameroon and Nigeria have now deposited at the UN
Trust Fund
for demarcation, 1.75 million US dollars each, bringing their total
contributions to the demarcation to 6 million US dollars. It will be the
responsibility of the Parties and the United Nations to work harder to
help mobilize the remaining balance. This good gesture by the parties
demonstrates that, as the French say, “On n’est jamais mieux servi que
par soi-meme”. Translated literally, it means “one is best served by
himself.”
On
your behalf, I would like to recognize with appreciation a donation of 1
million Pounds from the UK Government to this Trust Fund.
Ladies
Gentlemen,
The
tripartite visit to the Land Boundary and Bakassi Peninsula by the leaders
of the Mixed Commission
took place from 15 to 19 May 2004. The joint delegation was able to
meet and listen to the concerns of the local and the traditional leaders
and the elected authorities. We also have listened very carefully to the
affected populations themselves in the various towns and villages visited.
In the vast majority of the places, it was gratifying to hear that there
were no major problems between the populations. The constant plea of the
people was a call for peace. The visit to Bakassi was also
instructive and the visiting delegation was able to hear in close
proximity the concerns of the populations and their traditional rulers.
In
this context, two remarks may be useful to your attention.
On the Land Boundary, people in one village were unhappy with the
relationship with their immediate neighbors and indeed vice-versa. They
happen to be related by blood. In the Bakassi Peninsula the problems seem
to be different. Two
places visited known respectively as Jabane and Akwa in Cameroon, and
Abana and Archipong in Nigeria, illustrate the point.
In these two places, those who spoke before us were opposed to
being Cameroonian
nationals and expressed their desire to remain Nigerians. On the
Cameroonian side in Ekondo-Titi we met persons displaced from Bakassi.
Those who spoke expressed their wish to return home as Cameroonians and
described the suffering they have endured due to their long exile. I have
no doubt that both Nigeria and Cameroon have taken useful lessons
from the encounters, which I hope will help them address the question of
Bakassi peacefully, in conformity with the International Law.
However,
the leaders of Cameroon and Nigeria have to keep interacting more often
with these populations and engage them at all levels more frequently. I
wish also that the press in both countries would play a more constructive
and educational role to help bring about better understanding of a complex
issue. It is only then that their citizen, especially those on the border
will be true “Camegerians” a word crafted by our creative Prince Bola
Ajibola and meaning Cameroonian and Nigerian at the same time.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
Now
we are preparing ourselves for a second step in the withdrawal process,
this time from the Land Boundary and from Bakassi. As agreed on, the
successful formula and the precedent we have developed in the Lake Chad
area, should be replicated for withdrawal and transfer of authority in the
Land Boundary and Bakassi. That formula often characterized as
“the beginning of a success story” should be adhered to so as
to help minimize risks
and consolidate stability.
During
the ninth session in Yaounde, the two countries agreed on the date of
withdrawal of each other’s military and police forces and civilian
administration from concerned areas in the Land Boundary and Bakassi. As
these dates have extensively been publicized, the African Union, the
United Nations and our development partners have noted them, it is
therefore essential to all of us that appropriate measures be taken to
ensure that they are respected. In the past, we have kept the
commitments made by consensus. Today, there are more justifications
to continue to do so.
The
Working Group on the Maritime Boundary has had its first meeting on 28 May
2004. It adopted a Work Plan and the terms of reference proposed by the
Mixed Commission at its Eighth Meeting. The report of the meeting will be
presented to you.
It
is anticipated that the Working Groups on withdrawal and transfer of
authority in the Land Boundary and Bakassi will soon be established. They
will thereafter embark on the tasks assigned to them with the necessary
support from all the parties.
The
Joint Technical Team of the Sub-Commission on Demarcation has undertaken a
field visit to do a thorough checking of the SPOT 5 image
options. The result of the field work has confirmed that the
archival imagery can provide the basis for quickly mapping much of the
area. This means the field assessment of the boundary can begin much
earlier than previously planned.
The
Mixed Commission Observer Personnel for the Lake Chad Area undertook a
follow up visit to the area on 24 May 2004. At the United Nations, we have
been late in identifying our group of observers. But now, they all are
selected and recruited and should soon be deployed with their Cameroonians
and Nigerian colleagues.
Ladies
and gentleman,
As
of today, the progress achieved by the Mixed Commission is satisfactory.
We should however be aware that several daunting challenges are
ahead of us. To
overcome them, courage, resolve, and above all wisdom are required.
A mechanism established to follow up the implementation of the
Ruling of the ICJ, the Mixed Commission, is still under test and scrutiny.
With all its human, economic, and political dimensions, our process is a
difficult exercise. I
however sincerely believe that both Cameroon and Nigeria will continue to
take measure that will help build and strengthen the confidence between
their countries, governments and people.
I also do believe that the two countries should commit themselves
once again to respect all the rights of affected populations. In that
connection, more information and more education should be made available
to the populations to help them understand better the practical
consequences of the Ruling and its many advantages, especially in the area
of peace, stability and the much needed development of natural resources.
All
the people from Lake Chad Area down to Bakassi should be made aware of the
peace dividends and of the benefits of good neighborliness that will
accrue from the peaceful and collaborative implementation of the ICJ
decision.
Ladies
Gentlemen,
Much
regional and international attention is focused on our work and many
specialists wonder if we will rise up to the present and future
challenges. With the wisdom and goodwill which have been the hall mark of
this Mixed Commission, I am hopeful we will not falter.
Finally,
I would like to sincerely thank our Nigerian colleagues for the generous
hospitality extended to us all and for providing a good working
environment for this Tenth Session.
Thank
you.
