SG/SM/9407
AFR/990
7 July 2004
Secretary-General Commends Leaders of Gabon, Equatorial Guinea for Agreement to Peacefully Resolve Border Dispute
NEW YORK, 6 July (UN Headquarters) -- Following is the text of comments by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the signing ceremony between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea of an agreement to peacefully resolve their border dispute, in Addis Ababa, today:
This is one of the rare occasions when two African leaders come together to resolve their differences peacefully. This is a continent with lots of conflicts. I think this is an example for other leaders that differences can be resolved peacefully. And I’m really pleased that the two leaders accepted my mediation and today they’ve signed an agreement that will lead to joint exploration of the island in dispute, while they continue the demarcation of their border. And I’m sure the same spirit of compromise will prevail as they proceed with the rest of the work. So I think we should all be very pleased with what the two leaders have done and I commend them for their achievement.
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