Bakassi: UN Scribe Meets Nigeria, Cameroon Officials From Constance Ikokwu in Washington

Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, yesterday in New York, USA, met with top government officials from both Nigeria and Cameroon over the disputed oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula territory.
The meeting was the first high-level gathering at the UN Headquarters in New York, since the transfer of the oil-rich region to Cameroon in August 2008.
Although details of the close-door meeting was not made public, THISDAY, however, learnt that talks were held on the issue of delimitation and demarcation of the common land boundary of the two countries.
There were also discussions to expedite action on the remaining tasks as they carry out the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the matter.
The representatives of the two countries who attended the meeting were members of the team to the follow-up committee set up under the 2006 agreement to monitor the implementation of the accord.
A statement issued at the end of the meeting by the UN headquarters in New York, praised both countries for their co-operation in carrying out the ruling of the court.
Apart from marking a critical milestone in the implementation of the ICJ ruling, according to the statement, Cameroon and Nigeria have provided the world with a powerful illustration of respect for the rule of law as an effective tool for the peaceful settlement of disputes and a prime example of good neighbourliness.
The ICJ had in 2002 ruled that the disputed Bakassi territory belonged to Cameroon. The ruling was followed by 2006 Green Tree agreement signed under the auspices of former Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan. The agreement recognized the sovereignty of Cameroon over Bakassi Peninsula.
Bakassi was a subject of dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon for years until Cameroon took the case to the ICJ for adjudication