French PM backs Nigeria's bid for UN Security Council seat
From Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja
NIGERIA'S bid for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat yesterday received a boost as the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, said that through an eminently qualified country like Nigeria, Africa can have a much better representation at the global body.
In an exclusive on-line interview with The Guardian, Fillon noted that as a toast to the recently established strategic relations between the two countries, France is willing to further co-operate with Nigeria in the international arena, particularly with Nigeria's interest in a permanent UNSC seat in the lingering proposed expansion of the council to make for greater democratisation of the UN.
He said: "As far as the UN Security Council is concerned, France has made it clear that it is in favour of a better representation of the African continent, including among permanent members of the UNSC. We welcome the February 19, 2009 opening of intergovernmental negotiations on reform of the Security Council. Acknowledging the difficulties in negotiation, France and the United Kingdom (UK) proposed the option of an intermediate reform."
Fillon added: "Nigeria is already a key contributor to peace-keeping operations, with about 5,800 military and police personnel deployed. We feel that Nigeria also has an important role to play on the diplomatic scene and we are keen to develop our co-operation with your government within the different international bodies. One of the aims of the strategic partnership that was established last year is precisely to strengthen our political dialogue.
"We encourage African countries to discuss this solution within the African Union (AU). We also believe it is up to AU countries to reach an agreement on which country or countries best represent them. Reform of the Security Council is a necessity within the reform of international institutions. It requires a political commitment from member states at the highest level," he added.
Fillon, who arrives in Nigeria today from Cameroun at the start of a two-day official visit, also disclosed that Nigeria and Cameroun had everything to gain from the faithful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement embodying the final resolution of the conflict over Bakassi Peninsula as necessitated by the World Court verdict.
He added that France does not see the Bakassi issue as a matter for foreign interference.
It is the first visit by a French Prime Minister to Nigeria since independence. The visit is coming less than a year after President Umaru Yar'Adua and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, agreed on a strategic partnership during Yar'Adua's official visit to France, in June last year.
Fillon is leading a delegation of four cabinet ministers, members of the parliament and businessmen to Nigeria.
On why he is visiting Nigeria at this point in time, he said: "Nigeria is a major partner for France both from a political and economic point of view. Sarkozy and Yar'Adua have launched a new dynamics in Franco-Nigerian relations last year, establishing a strategic partnership between our two nations...
"My visit is the continuation of this process. Several important agreements will be signed, concerning legal assistance in criminal matters, cultural, educational and development co-operation or co-operation in defence and maritime security. As Nigeria is currently holding the presidency (chair) of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), so this visit is also an opportunity to voice France's support to the regional integration process."
He also spoke on general expectations from the developing partners on Nigeria's relationship with Cameroun over Bakassi.
"As you know France, just like the UK, Germany and the United States (U.S.), are witness nations of the Green Tree Agreement. Our aim, together with our partners, has always been to favour a peaceful resolution of the Bakassi border dispute. We are, therefore, pleased by the courageous decision by Nigeria and Cameroun to resolve this territorial dispute peacefully by complying with the judgment of the International Court of Justice (October 2002) and the provisions of the Green Tree Agreement (12 June 2006)...
"The transfer of the western part of the peninsula by Nigeria on August 14, 2008 is to be remembered all over the continent as an example of the peaceful ending of a conflict. France commends Nigeria for this very positive achievement.
"We also encourage Nigeria and Cameroun to continue to strengthen their co-operation as far as security and development of local communities on both sides of the border are concerned. It is in both countries' interest not to let lawlessness prevail," he added.
On the security in the Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria's extant territorial waters as a frontline state in this regard, he said by the working agreement between France and Nigeria issued after the meeting between Sarkozy and Yar'Adua, France took note of a number of Nigerian requests, "particularly in the field of training, in order to assist the Nigerian Navy build its capacity in maritime and river control."
"We have taken the opportunity of this visit to Nigeria to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence co-operation and maritime security. Our aim is to share our expertise with the Nigerian defence forces by assessing, among other things, the need for training," he added.
Stressing that the idea of French Africa versus Anglo Africa was dead, he said that France would use his visit to work for greater means through which France can assist Nigeria in curbing the problems in the Niger Delta.
He noted that part of the new French policy in Africa "is the negotiation of new defence partnerships that take into account the rise of an African peace and security architecture that has been defined by the AU. On the basis of bilateral defence partnerships, which will be made public, we wish to help our partners to contribute to the success of this African initiative, with an African standby force and regional brigades, like within ECOWAS and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
According to the French embassy yesterday, while in Abuja, Fillon will meet with Yar'Adua. He will also have a working session with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
Under the auspices of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Fillon will deliver a public lecture on "France and Nigeria in a global world," at the ECOWAS Auditorium, Abuja tomorrow before departing Nigeria.
