By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The country is embarking on new strategies towards the quest for international recognition as a sovereign state.
This follows the first meeting by the recently appointed National Recognition Committee by the president of Somaliland H.E Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Silanyo) held in Hargeisa under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Somaliland Dr Saad Ali Shire
This was revealed in a press statement released by the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation below verbatim
The national Recognition Committee established by President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo held its first session in Hargeisa on the 19th March 2016.
Opening the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Saad Ali Shire and all the committee members thanked the president for establishing this committee as well as its assembled membership for accepting the onerous national task placed upon their shoulders.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs & International, Dr Saad Ali Shire stressed upon the fact that the committee that brings together members with a diverse background among them government officials, politicians (ruling and opposition), EX-MOFA Ministers, lawyers, technocrats, Diplomats and ordinary citizens was solely intent on aligning its activities to the government’s foreign affairs policy more so as to pertain the quest for recognition and international sanctioned talks with Somalia.
Presided by the Foreign Minister, Dr. Saad Ali Shire, the committee members discussed key issues regarding the mandatory responsibilities and functions of the committee in securing international recognition for Somaliland and more specifically functions, structure and division of responsibilities of the committee members. The members thanked Somaliland President for appointing them as such national committee. They appreciated the government’s initiative in promoting collective and cooperative action towards the recognition seeking campaign and the foreign policy and public diplomacy strategy implementation. The Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Dr. Saad Ali Shire distributed reviewed final draft of Somaliland’s foreign policy and proposed strategies to the committee for further debating of improvement.
The committee upon distribution of the Somaliland foreign policy document and proposed by Dr Sa’ad Ali Shire proceeded on discussions as on the meeting agenda that included brainstorming on recognition strategies, committee structure and individual members’ mandate.
Of important was the unanimous agreement that the country’s 25th Anniversary of independence 18th May 2016 should be organized and coordinated more properly worldwide commemorations in all major capitals with greater participation of Somaliland Diaspora abroad. Apart from regular celebrations proper messages pertaining to the country’s non-negotiable nor irrevocable sovereignty be passed all over the world during the independence celebrations.
In addition, the national recognition committee was briefed by the chairperson of the Somaliland Diaspora agency Mr Abdi Abdilahi Hirsi on issues related to ongoing activities of establishing recognition committees in major cities of the world.
Members of the Committee participating in its first session were:
Dr Saad Ali Shire, minister of Foreign affairs and international cooperation Eng Feisal Ali Warabe, Chairperson of UCID Political Party Ahmed Abdilahi Kijande, Member of Parliament Ahmed Dahir Mahmud, Member of Parliament Abdilahi Jama Geeljire, Ex-Minister Amb Hussein Ali Duale ‘Awil’ Dr Edna Aden Ismail, Ex-MOFA Minister Prof Mohamed Saeed Gees, Ex-MOFA Minister Amb Rabi Abdi Mohamed, Roaming Ambassador of Somaliland Mohamud Hussein Farah, Dean of Law of Hargeisa University
Copyright: Somalilandsun, 2016. www.somalilandsun.com
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Somaliland
Hargeisa, Republic of Somaliland
