By: Yusuf M Hasan
BERBERA (Somalilandsun) – Talks between Somaliland and Somalia will continue on the basis of country to country negotiations to enhance relations.
This outcome follows the Dubai charter that was signed on the 28th June in Dubai by presidents Silanyo and Sharif who affixed their signatures to the document, with representatives from the international community as witness, at the bottom of the declaration is specified areas marked,H.E Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
President,
Transitional Fedreral Government,
Somalia
&
H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo
President,
Somaliland
Upon his return from Dubai President Silanyo who briefed the press at the Berbera international VIP lounge, shoulder to shoulder with ex-president and leader of opposition political party of UDUB Hon Dahir Rayale, reiterated the 97% Somalilanders unanimity on sovereign saying, “We shall talk to all whom we perceive to be of importance to our nation but our Sovereignty is neither for discussion nor Compromise” (see full article http://somalilandsun.com/index.php/politics/1035-somaliland-president-silanyo-extends-mandate-of-tfg-talks-committee )
Following his short brief the president asked the minister of foreign affairs Dr Mohamed Abdillahi Omar to inform on meeting outcome. The Foreign minister thus informed that the main objective of the two presidents meeting was attained successfully after their joint acquiescence with the 8 point Chevening House Declaration.
“The two presidents concurred on the importance of continued dialogue between the two neighbourly countries thus the extension of the mandate of the dual Somaliland-Somalia technical committees” said Dr Mohamed
According to the foreign minister the two presidents who authorized their respective technical committees to elevate level of negotiations from one of talks preparation and embark on negotiations of poignant issues of between the now separate but former united countries, further concurred that future discussions will be held on the context of one sovereign country to another.
Dr Mohamed Abdillahi Omar stressed on the importance of this outcome, describing it as a major milestone in Somaliland’s prolonged quest for recognition as a sovereign nation.
“Other agreements reached during the Dubai meeting include the prioritization of Security cooperation in order to avail peace within the Horn of Africa region
Dr Mohamed Abdillahi Omar is the leader of Somaliland’s technical committee that held the first ever face to face talks between the governments, in London where the Chevening House Declaration was agreed upon. Others in the committee include leader of opposition political party of UCID Hon Feisal Ali Warabe, MP Bashe Mohamed Farah- 1st Deputy speaker of parliament, Ministers of the presidency and that of Labour & Social Affairs Hon Hirsi Ali and Hon Mahmoud Ahmed Barre (Garaad) respectively.
The Presidents meeting in Dubai was the second of its kind in the past 21 years since Somaliland reclaimed its independence. The first was the two days one held at Chevening House in London between 20th & 21st June 2012.
The two days talks to prepare Somaliland Somalia talks in London that were co-hosted by Britain, Norway and the EU ended with sanguinity thus facilitating the Dubai presidential meeting.
