a écrit le 6 septembre 2011 à 1h52 Relations with Nigeria/Bakassi
¶4. (C) Biya was grateful for the 2006 Greentree Accord which led to the final settlement of the Bakassi Peninsula dispute with Nigeria. To build on this, Cameroon needed to construct more roads to Nigeria and strengthen its capacity to supply electricity to its neighbor. Biya asked Ambassador about the current Nigerian political situation, praising President Yar´adua as a "good partner" who had always treated Cameroon "properly." Biya was saddened by Yar´adua´s illness.
¶5. (C) Cameroon and Nigeria were working together to address what he thought were valid allegations that some Nigerians had been mistreated in Bakassi. The GRC was trying to "do it YAOUNDE right" in Bakassi, balancing development and security. The GRC´s elite military group, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), had been successful at reducing petty crime (although Biya saw the need to augment BIR efforts to combat highway bandits called "coupeurs de routes" in northern Cameroon). The President lamented a recent fire in Bakassi, hoped to find oil in the Peninsula, and stressed the need to improve the security environment.
Copenhagen/China
¶6. (S) The outcome of the Copenhagen summit was "positive," especially its inclusion of forest resources, Biya said. Cameroon would associate with the Accord, he noted. He was particularly
frustrated with China - "what´s wrong with them?" he queried, criticizing them for "throwing their weight around" in Copenhagen. He didn´t understand China´s treatment of the Dalai Lama and
Taiwan, pointing to the need to "bring China along."
Economic/Commercial Issues
¶7. (SBU) Ambassador pointed to the growing U.S.-Cameroon commercial relationship. She noted that the bauxite mining consortium Cameroon Alumina Ltd. (CAL), which includes American company Hydromine, had fulfilled the conditions of its exploration license and hoped to be granted a mining permit. She also noted that American cobalt mining company Geovic had just resolved a long-standing dispute with its GRC partner which should facilitate completion of the project in 2010, although there were some lingering issues. She also highlighted our desire to see Cameroon take better advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Biya supported AGOA and agreed "there is a lot to do." He was frustrated with the human relations management of American electricity company AES, although he thought Cameroon´s water problems were more severe than electricity shortages. He was
delighted
¶4. (C) Biya was grateful for the 2006 Greentree Accord which led to the final settlement of the Bakassi Peninsula dispute with Nigeria. To build on this, Cameroon needed to construct more roads to Nigeria and strengthen its capacity to supply electricity to its neighbor. Biya asked Ambassador about the current Nigerian political situation, praising President Yar´adua as a "good partner" who had always treated Cameroon "properly." Biya was saddened by Yar´adua´s illness.
¶5. (C) Cameroon and Nigeria were working together to address what he thought were valid allegations that some Nigerians had been mistreated in Bakassi. The GRC was trying to "do it YAOUNDE right" in Bakassi, balancing development and security. The GRC´s elite military group, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), had been successful at reducing petty crime (although Biya saw the need to augment BIR efforts to combat highway bandits called "coupeurs de routes" in northern Cameroon). The President lamented a recent fire in Bakassi, hoped to find oil in the Peninsula, and stressed the need to improve the security environment.
Copenhagen/China
¶6. (S) The outcome of the Copenhagen summit was "positive," especially its inclusion of forest resources, Biya said. Cameroon would associate with the Accord, he noted. He was particularly
frustrated with China - "what´s wrong with them?" he queried, criticizing them for "throwing their weight around" in Copenhagen. He didn´t understand China´s treatment of the Dalai Lama and
Taiwan, pointing to the need to "bring China along."
Economic/Commercial Issues
¶7. (SBU) Ambassador pointed to the growing U.S.-Cameroon commercial relationship. She noted that the bauxite mining consortium Cameroon Alumina Ltd. (CAL), which includes American company Hydromine, had fulfilled the conditions of its exploration license and hoped to be granted a mining permit. She also noted that American cobalt mining company Geovic had just resolved a long-standing dispute with its GRC partner which should facilitate completion of the project in 2010, although there were some lingering issues. She also highlighted our desire to see Cameroon take better advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Biya supported AGOA and agreed "there is a lot to do." He was frustrated with the human relations management of American electricity company AES, although he thought Cameroon´s water problems were more severe than electricity shortages. He was
delighted
