Setting out the priorities and aims of the Somalia Conference on 7 May 2013
Somalilandsun – This is the verbatim UK statement on the Somalia conference and Somalilandsun having failed to discern mention of Somaliland hereby requests readers to point us to the right direction in-order to help us determine how wrong president Silanyo was in his decision to boycott the conference as well as help prove WADANI party right in its assertion that the boycott is both a political disaster and a gigantic diplomatic blunder-Editor
Somalia has been through a dramatic shift over the last year, and a new government has taken power in Mogadishu in the most representative political process in a generation. There is now a unique opportunity to move on from the problems of the past.
The new government has issued a six-pillar policy plan in which it has made clear commitments to improve security and justice, reduce corruption, stimulate economic recovery, deliver services in the health and education sector, foster cooperation with international partners, and uphold the unity and integrity of Somalia.
The militant Islamist organisation Al Shabaab has been expelled from some of Somalia’s major towns and cities. People are rebuilding their properties and businesses. Confidence is increasing, and members of the diaspora are returning. It is vital that we now take this opportunity to maintain momentum and create the conditions to enable Somalia’s spirit of entrepreneurialism to thrive.
The conference will focus on how the international community can work in partnership with the new Federal Government of Somalia on its priorities: rebuilding its armed forces, police, coastguard, justice and public financial management systems; and helping create political stability. It will mark the new spirit of partnership between Somalia and the international community.
Somalia will feature in a number of other high-level events this year hosted by international partners and multi-lateral institutions, including the UN, the EU, Japan and The African Union, and is also an area of focus for the UK’s Presidency of the G8 this year.
