Africa

Somali organizations support TFG-Somaliland dialogue

June 25, 2012   ·   309956 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fsomali-organizations-support-tfg-somaliland-dialogue-30995Somali+organizations+support+TFG-Somaliland+dialogue2012-06-26+05%3A18%3A54Qalinle+Husseinhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D30995

The Somaliland Non State Actors Forum (SONSAF) hold a meeting in Hargeisa to support dialogue.

MOGADISHU — Various youth umbrellas in Somalia on Monday pledged their support for the recent direct talks between Somaliland and Somalia during a discussion held in the Somali capital.

Facilitated by youth groups, the meeting brought together a large number of participants from different walks of life in a well organized reception in Mogadishu.

Mohamud Sadik, a member of Mogadishu’s Youth networks, said negotiations between the two sides are long overdue in his opening statement on Monday. He added that the initiative, dubbed Chevening House Declaration, could secure a historic transformation for all Somali people.

Ahmed Abdi Ayne, who was also present for the occasion called on Somalia’s TFG and the Somaliland government to continue the approach of dialogue to resolve key pending issues.

“We urge the two sides to continue with the negotiation deal and we hope they will bear fruits,” he said.

The support for dialogue and negotiation to resolve the existing problems between the two sides has resonated strongly with the participants of the meeting.

The youth in Mogadishu called on both sides to give dialogue and peace a chance.

Separately on Sunday, the direct discussion between the two feuding neighbours was welcomed on the Somaliland side. The Somaliland Non-State Actors Forum this week reiterated their continues support for a policy of dialogue and negotiation.

The forum said it “believes that this dialogue is in the interest of Somaliland and the aspirations of its people.”

They were joined by other groups throughout Somaliland who described the meeting in Chevening House as a progressive step in the right direction.

The first preparatory talks in two decades between the two Somali states concluded on Thursday in a location near the British capital, where the two agreed to an 8-point plan including future formal discussions.

The UK and its co-hosts, Norway and the EU, said the aim of the meeting was to support the sides to “establish a framework for future substantive talks.”

First meeting between Somaliland President Ahmed Silanyo and Somalia’s transitional president Sheikh Sharif Ahmed are scheduled for some time within this month in one of the Gulf countries.

The international community has urged the sides to clarify their future relations on critical issues including international aid, legal, economic and security matters.

They also called on them to cooperate in tackling terrorism, extremism, maritime piracy, illegal fishing and toxic dumping.

The London Conference Communiqué and the Istanbul II Conference Communiqué support the talks to take place between the TFG (or its replacement) and Somaliland.

The declaration in Chevening House states:

The Participants:

• Agreed that the talks would take place between two sides – the TFG (or its replacement) and Somaliland, in accordance with paragraph 6 of the London Conference Communiqué and paragraph 10 of the Istanbul II Conference Communiqué;

• Noted the need to adopt a common approach to avoid anything that would undermine the continuation of the talks as defined above;

• Committed to the continuation of the talks and called on the two presidents to meet to review progress as soon as possible;

• Called on the international community to continue to facilitate the talks, including providing the two sides with external experts on legal, economic and security matters;

• Agreed to share experience on working more effectively with the international community on the use of development and humanitarian assistance for the people of both sides and called for the international community to increase that assistance;

• Agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, extremism and serious crimes;

• Agreed to cooperate in the fight against piracy at sea and on land, maritime crime, illegal fishing and toxic dumping; and

• Reiterated their support for ending the Transition in Somalia.

June 25, 2012

Somalilandpress

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Mogadishu, Somalia, Somaliland news, SONSAF