Annan welcomes border security talks between Cameroon, Chad and CAR

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today congratulated Chad, Central African Republic and host country Cameroon on holding a United Nations-supported meeting to work out ways of collaborating on strengthening border security.

“I am confident that the conclusions and recommendations from your work will have the anticipated impact on the security situation of your three States,” he said in a message read in Yaoundé by his representative in CAR, General Lamine Cissé.

CAR recently held presidential elections, which were won by François Bozizé.

With the recent return of CAR to constitutional legality, Mr. Annan said, he hoped the 25-27 August high-level meeting would assist the countries in re-establishing a lasting, indispensable stability to add to the consolidation of their nascent democracy and the achievement of socio-economic stability. At the same time, Cameroon and Chad needed border stability to be able to pursue vital economic cooperation, Mr. Annan said.

Building on some 12 years of cooperation between the UN and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the UN will renew its commitment to reinforce cooperation between States and institutions to promote peace and lasting security in the sub-region, he said.