GREENTREE AGREEMENT FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEE MEETING:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 000537 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON, CHAYLOCK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PBTS PREF SMIG KDEM CM NI SUBJECT: GREENTREE AGREEMENT FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEE MEETING: MOVING TOWARD AUGUST 14 TRANSFER OF BAKASSI PENINSULA TO CAMEROON ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a July 11 meeting of the Greentree Agreement Follow-up Committee attended by the U.S. and other witness states, Nigeria and Cameroon reaffirmed their commitment to carrying out the transfer of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on August 14, although both also said they needed to continue work on security arrangements ahead of that event. Committee Chair Kieran Prendergast suggested that participants in the agreement meet with UN SyG Ban in New York in October to offer the Greentree Agreement as a model to resolve other bilateral disagreements, an idea both sides welcomed. Following the meeting, Prendergast told us the Nigerian government was still working on where to hold the transfer ceremony, and was considering doing so in Abuja to give it more publicity and counter those who remain critical of it. END SUMMARY. GOOD ATMOSPHERICS, AGREEMENT TO MOVE AHEAD WITH TRANSFER -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Atmospherics were good throughout the July 11 Greentree Agreement Follow-up Committee meeting. In opening remarks, Committee Chair Prendergast welcomed the progress to date and stressed that SyG Ban would remain engaged in the process for as long as necessary, while also noting the positive role of the witness states. (Representatives of the UK, Germany and France joined us in attending the session.) The Cameroon delegation head, Minister Delegate in the Justice Ministry Maurice Kamto, said his government would do all it could to fulfill the agreement within the timetable. The Nigerian delegation head, Justice Minister Aondoakaa, said his government plans to transfer the Bakassi Peninsula by August 14. Both delegations echoed Prendergast in expressing their appreciation for the attendance of the witness states, which, they stressed, had played an important role in the negotiations. ¶3. (U) General David Kattah, Chair of the UN team to the Mixed Commission, summarized the report of the Commission's May 10-16 mission to the peninsula. He stressed both sides' cooperation in implementing the mission and the peaceful conditions under which it was conducted. Kattah noted in particular the report's recommendation that the UN help with projects on water, medical systems, electricity, roads and erosion prevention. The Nigerian delegation noted that the mission would have taken place earlier but was delayed to ensure full security arrangements, expressed appreciation for the social amenities Cameroon had provided in the peninsula, and underscored its commitment to further working with Cameroon on security in Bakassi. Cameroon's delegation said the report confirmed the peaceful situation on the peninsula, pledged to work hand-in-hand with Nigeria to avoid infiltration by elements that may wish to disrupt the security situation on the peninsula, and said that the GoC's current budget includes more funding for Bakassi. NIGERIA STILL WORKING OUT MODALITIES OF TRANSFER -------------- --- ¶4. (U) Turning to the arrangements for the peninsula's transfer, the Nigerian delegation said cooperation and flexibility would be needed to ensure that it was carried out safely and effectively. Aondoakaa expressed appreciation GENEVA 00000537 002 OF 002 that Cameroon would respect customary land rights and stressed that Nigeria would allow free access in and out of Bakassi following the transfer. The Cameroon delegation underscored that Nigerian citizens could stay in Bakassi without having to change citizenship. Kamto reiterated that both sides should work together to ensure that there is no security vacuum that could be exploited by those seeking to disrupt the agreement, and said he hoped that by the beginning of August, the two sides will have succeeded in elaborating security plans. ¶5. (SBU) Following the meeting, Prendergast told us privately that he was optimistic about the August 14 transfer but that some work still remained. He added that Nigeria was working out where to hold the transfer ceremony, and was considering holding it in Abuja to maximize its profile and counter those who remain critical of the agreement. OIL INSTALLATIONS IN THE PENINSULA -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In a final formal agenda item, Nigeria handed to Cameroon a communication on Nigerian oil installations in Cameroonian territorial waters. The Cameroon delegation responded that it was not able to reciprocate at present because it needed to prepare the information in ways that would protect information that the involved oil companies did not want to make public. (Prendergast last told us he believed Cameroon would have nothing to offer on the subject in any case.) Although the Committee Secretariat had earlier told us that this agenda might spark controversy, there was no further discussion or disagreement. PLANS TO LAY OUT AGREEMENT IN NEW YORK -------------- ¶7. (U) Prendergast concluded the session by suggesting that both sides consider traveling to New York to meet with SyG Ban in October, on the margins of the Sixth Committee, to present the agreement's implementation. This would allow them to highlight the agreement as a model to resolve other countries' bilateral agreements. Both sides expressed general support for the idea. STORELLA