Antoine Gambi was the bearer of a special sealed message for onward transmission to President Paul Biya.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and the Francophonie of the Central African Republic, Antoine Gambi yesterday, September 7, handed to the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang a sealed message from President François Bozize for onward transmission to President Paul Biya of Cameroon. This was during a mid-day audience Cameroon’s Head of Government granted to the special envoy from the Central African Republic at the head of a delegation.

Antoine Gambi coincidentally, is also the leader of the delegation from the Central African Republic participating in the three-day Cameroon- Central African Republic Mixed Commission whose 11th session will end at the Yaounde Conference Centre today. In an interview after discussions with the Prime Minister Yang, he said the Mixed Commission was an ideal framework to concert on common bilateral concerns on transport, trade, forestry and education. Stating that the 10th Mixed Commission meeting took place in Bangui in 2002, the session will enable them harmonise views on the various areas intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Talking about transport which is one of the key points discussed at the Yaounde Mixed Commission meeting, Mr Gambi stated that, “the Central African Republic is enclaved and the only access to the sea is through the Douala Port in Cameroon”, and added that, “we have to harmonise and apply the regulations put in place by the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) to ensure fluidity in trade exchanges”. Experts, he said, were preparing agreements that will be signed aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The Central African Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs besides the Mixed Commission work, has also been visiting and concerting with some ministers in Cameroon. He disclosed to the press after meeting the Prime Minister that he had already met and discussed with Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Finance, Ministers of Trade, Transport and Public Health. He disclosed that he was to meet later in the afternoon with the Ministers of Industries, Mines and Technological Development and External Relations and before leaving Yaounde, would also concert with the Minister of State for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation. The meetings, the Central African Republic Foreign Affairs Minister explained, are intended to discuss on specific issues intended to consolidate the bilateral fraternal relations and cooperation between the two countries.