• Urges Respect for its Sovereignty thus conducive resumption of bi-lateral talks
By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The government and people of Somaliland highly condemn the assassination attempt on the life of newly elected Somalia president.
A statement from the ministry of foreign affairs that commiserated with President Hassan Sheikh Mahmud who together with Kenyan foreign minister escaped unharmed from an apparent suicide bomb attack on a Mogadishu hotel where they were holding a news conference.
The Foreign minister Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar asked the people of Somalia not to allow terrorists to derail current successes garnered as pertains to re-establishing a permanent peace and functioning government.
“While we condemn the attempt on your president’s life we urge you to sustain recent gains made in the fight against terrorists in your country”
The foreign minister who informed that the government is ready to resume bi-lateral talks asked the new administration to respect the irrevocable sovereignty wishes of Somalilanders.
Stressing on the importance of the internationally endorsed talks between the brotherly and neighbouring countries, the foreign minister said it was imperative for the Somalia people to respect the wishes of Somalilanders thus amicable negotiations.
In an earlier congratulatory message extended to Hassan Sheikh Mahmud on his election as Somalia’s first democratically elected, a move that he termed as timely, Dr Mohamed Abdilahi informed that the postponed talks were now possibly and that the Somaliland government and people were fully prepared
The third phase of talks between the two countries that were because of article six and eleven the London and Istanbul II conferences on Somalia respectively have been on hold following postponement by Somaliland’s government.
The first phase of the talks that held for two days (20th & 21 June 2012) in London culminated with the eight point Chevening House Declaration. This was the first face-to-face talks between the two countries in 20 years.
The talk’s second phase were held in the UAE city of Dubai where President Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo of Somaliland and Sheikh Sharif of Somalia co-signed the Dubai declaration on the 28th June
The government of Somaliland in a statement read by the minister of foreign affairs on 27 July 2012 announced that it had postponed the third phase of the talks until the election of a new government to replace the Transitional Federal Government whose mandate had expired.
