As Bozdag and Silanyo concur on and agree to enhance and sustain good bi-lateral relations between Turkey and Somaliland
By: Yusuf M Hasan
ANKARA (Somalilandsun) – Turkey is set to increase its development intervention in the country.
This was revealed by the Turkish Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag during talks with a Somaliland delegation led by President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo in Ankara.
The meeting follows the arrival in Ankara upon invitation of prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to president Silanyo whose entourage i
ncludes first lady Amina Weris, Dr. Mohamed A Omar, Minister of the presidency Hon Hirsi Haji Ali and the youthful minister for Resettlement, Rehabilitation and National Reconstruction Dr Suleiman Isse Ahmed “Hagaltosie”, minister of energy Eng. Hussein A Duale and Education Minister Hon Zamzam Abdi Aden respectively.
According to foreign minister Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar the two countries who concurred on the existing and conducive bilateral relations agreed to not only sustainability but enhancement as well.
Following a warm reception by the Turkish authorities in Ankara president Silanyo took upon his meeting with deputy premiere Bozdag to thank the people and government of that country for believing in thus supporting Somaliland.
The foreign minister informed that the state owned air carrier Turkish Airways will initiate regular flights to the country where it shall utilize the Berbera international airport as its home in the horn region in June 2013.
“Discussions which ensued between president Silanyo and premiere Bozdag related to enhancement of bilateral relations, increment of Turkish direct support to the government in Hargeisa and development at large” said Dr Omar while briefing the press on meeting outcomes in Ankara
Other issues agreed upon included increased Turkish support to its already ongoing projects in the education and health sectors and more specifically the construction of a fully funded Turkish hospital in one of the six regions of the country as
well expertise in the development of technical skills related trainings.
Other developments from the meeting with the deputy Turkey prime minister pertain to the implementation of a standing plan for senior Turkish government officials to undertake an assessment visit to Somaliland.
After the Bozdag meeting president Silanyo and his entourage held discussions with the Turkish minister of energy where a number of lucrative deals were made as pertains to already ongoing multi-million dollar investments by the Anglo-Turkish company Genel energy.
The Somaliland is expected to conduct several other meetings before their flight back to Somaliland most likely on the 14th of this month.
