Written question asked by Mark Simmonds (Conservative) on Thursday, 4 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 November 2004. It was answered by Chris Mullin (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage Nigeria to cede sovereignty of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon, as required under the October 2002 ruling by the International Court of Justice. - Inc ref to 13 October 2004, 425 c299W

Answer: Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage Nigeria to cede sovereignty of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon, as required under the October 2002 ruling by the International Court of Justice. [197130] Mr. Mullin: We have made clear to both Nigeria and Cameroon our support for the International Court of Justice ruling. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 13 October 2004, Official Report, column 299W. We support the work of the UN Mixed Commission and look to Nigeria and Cameroon to negotiate the detail of implementation. We hope the decision at the last meeting in October to remit further discussion to the respective Heads of State, and the UN Secretary- General, will lead to a swift resolution.

Secondary information