Congratulating Cameroon, Nigeria for implementing boundary ruling of International Court of Justice, Secretary-General says they can count on United Nations support

NEW YORK, November 23, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's closing remarks at the joint meeting with the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission and Follow-up Committee of the Greentree Agreement, in New York, 22 November:

Once again, on behalf of the United Nations, I congratulate you for implementing the ruling of the ICJ [International Court of Justice] in a spirit of mutual respect and good neighbourliness. I wish in particular to commend President [Paul] Biya and President [Goodluck] Jonathan for their continued wisdom and leadership. Through your actions, and this process, you are demonstrating that statesmanship and preventive diplomacy can succeed.

As we look ahead, one main challenge will be to protect the livelihoods and human rights of the affected populations, whether they are Cameroonian or Nigerian, and whether they live along the boundary or in the Bakassi peninsula. These men and women should be able to build a peaceful and prosperous future for themselves and their children.

In addition, many important tasks remain with respect to the demarcation of your boundary. The continued commitment of all will be essential in completing this final chapter in the implementation of the Court's ruling.

As you embark on the road ahead, you can count on my full support and that of the United Nations.

I would like to thank you again for the participation of the distinguished ministers from Nigeria and Cameroon, and I would like to thank the presence of witness States — Germany, the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Thank you again for your commitment to peace. I wish you great success in your important work. Thank you very much.