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Dear Gbenga,
 
well, regarding Western Europe - I can speak for Austria, and even this small country is not completely delimitated and demarcated. A dispute remains about the borders of Switzerland, Germany and Austria on Lake Constance. I would presume that such issues remain all over Western Europe, although probably most borders are fully delimitated and demarcated.
 
Also, I think that setting a goal of 2012 for the demarcation and delimitation of all unsettled boundaries in Africa is extremely ambitious (and that's an understatement). Your estimate of 50 years is probably closer to reality, and even that would be a challenge.
 
And I have to agree with you - sometimes it is better to let sleeping dogs lie. Even though clarity and agreement about the exact location of a boundary is probably the best deterrent against border wars and other calamities, sometimes it may be better to just agree to disagree. If one can find a working agreement that offers solutions for all or at least most potential causes of conflict, then occasionally even a disputed boundary may aid in closer cooperation of neighbouring countries. Take the above example of Lake Constance: even though the three countries' positions on the location or even nature of the boundary (condominium vs. middle line) diverge considerably, they cooperate on numerous issues regarding the lake itself (resource management, transport and security issues etc.).
 
Hope this was helpful.
 
Cheers,
Anton


 

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:22:49 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Is total Delimitation and Demarcation desireable?
To: [log in to unmask]


Dear Colleagues,
The African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government at their eighth ordinary session in January 2007 mandated the AU Commission to pursue efforts towards the structural prevention of conflicts particularly through implementation of the AU Border Programme on the delineation and demarcation of borders. This programme ambitiously envisages  that all undelimited and undemarcated boundaries should be delimited and demarcated by 2012. Is this possible? Is it desirable. Is there any continent or indeed any part of the world which is completely delimited and demarcated.  My instincts are that one will need about 50 years for such a process. I also have concerns about not letting sleeping dogs lie. Assuming it is even theoretically possible what strategies are likely to work. What costs will be involved. Can one even say Western Europe is completely and successfully demarcated. Your thoughts will be appreciated.
Best Regards
Gbenga

[1] Hereinafter referred to as the Commission. Materials relating to the African Union (

AU) are available at  www.africa-union.org;


Dr. Gbenga Oduntan 
Lecturer in International Commercial Law,
Kent Law School,
Eliot College,
University of Kent,
Canterbury,
Kent CT2 7NS, UK.

Phone:
Switchboard 0044 (0)1227 764000 (ext 4817)
Direct Line 0044 (0)1227 824817
Fax: 0044 (0) 1227 827831

Email: [log in to unmask] 
http://www.kent.ac.uk/law/people/index.htm




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