| Nigeria has 60-90 days to withdraw troops from Bakassi |
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| Tuesday, 13 June 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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by LAOLU AKANDE, who was at the Greentree, Manhasset meeting, NEW YORK Full agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon have been reached on the Bakassi peninsula dispute short of one issue, according to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan after Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Paul Biya signed what is now being called the Greentree Accord, in regard to the location of the meeting Monday in Manhasset, Long Island on New York's eastern surburb. But the three leaders did not indicate what the subsisting dispute was. Details of the agreements were not made available yesterday beyond brief remarks by the three leaders. The agreement signed by Obasanjo and Biya yesterday in New York put paid to speculations in the diplomatic community that a complete agreement had been reached between Nigeria and Cameroon. Secretary General Annan said the withdrawl of troops from the disputed area would take place within the next 60 days with a possible extension of additional 30 days on the discretion of the UN Secretary-General "if it is absolutely necessary". According to Annan, "agreements covering three of the four disputed sectors have been reached." Altogether, he said it would take another 2 years for the complete transition from Nigeria to Cameroon to take place. On the fate of the Nigeria population, Annan added that the people had the choice to either remain in Bakassi under Cameroonian auhtority or relocate to Nigeria. In his remarks President Obasanjo said both countries "were conscious that in matters affecting the long established ways of life of human beings, justice has to be tempered with political realities on the ground." He noted that the agreement signed yesterday marks a climax in the series of agreements we have concluded and implemented" and is a clear indication that "where there exists goodwill and equal commitment to peaceful resolution between two parties, a happy solution can always be found." According to Obasanjo, the Greentree accord is a great achievement in conflict resolution "which practically reflects its cost effectiveness when compared to the alternative of conflict resolution. Its significance therefore goes much beyond Nigeria and Cameroon." Obasanjo praised both Annan and Biya, calling them brothers. As for the Cameroonian leader, he noted the importance of a scrupulous implementation of the agreement, while praising both President Olusegun Obasanjo and Secretary-General Annan. President Paul Biya said he shared a willingness with Obasanjo to resolve the dispute peacefully, adding that wisdom has been the guide in all the 5 summits that has been held by the three leaders on this matter since the October 2002 ICJ ruling in favour of Cameroon. He added that the Greentree Accord is the begining of a new period of trust between Nigeria and Cameroon. Asked by a Cameroonian journalist whether he had received assurance from the Nigerian president that the agreements would be implemented, Biya responded saying, Obasanjo's presence at the meeting is already a guarantee. He added however that the agreements are "secured legal guarantees." Annan commending both leaders and calling the process of negotiation between both countries innovative stated that "the momentum achieved must be sustained." According to him, "I have urged the international community to give its full support to Nigeria and Cameroon's efforts to implement today's agreement on the ground as soon as possible." The UN Secretary General said compared to other conflict resolution process, this one has been "creative, low-cost and efficient." Said he:" Progress has been achieved at a fraction of the cost of comparable undertakings elsewhere." Annan recalled that it has costed about $1.2b to demarcate borders in the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict with the demarcation yet to take place. On the contrary, the UN Mixed Commission which has been overseeing the negotiation has a yearly budget drawn from the UN of about $5m, with extra budgetary contributions to a UN Trust Fund. According to the modalities of the agreement implementations, the Secretary general will present a progress report within one month of signing, which took place yesterday, followed by monthly reports as appropriate. Also a Follow-Up Committee would be set up, with reps from both countries, the UN, and witnesses to the agreement according to the modalities released after meeting yesterday. The witnesses at the signing include Germany, US, UK and France.
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Posted by Robot| 13.06.2006 06:20