Somalilandsun -The two African leaders were in Ankara to discuss ways to settle their problems in their first ever meeting under Turkey’s mediation reports the worldbulletin .
Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Sunday met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and President of Somaliland Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo in the Turkish capital.
The two African leaders were in Ankara to discuss ways to settle their problems in their first ever meeting under Turkey’s mediation.
Somaliland, a former British colony, declared in 1991 independence from the Federal Republic of Somalia proclaiming the Somaliland Republic, which has been internationally unrecognised since then.
Somaliland seeks recognition as a separate country, a demand rejected by Somalia which wants the northern region to be a part of a single Somali state.
Separately, Mohamud and Silanyo later met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who oversaw the penning of an “Ankara declaration” and pledged determination to continue peaceful dialogue to overcome their differences.
The declaration also vowed to facilitate international aid and development support for Somaliland.
Somali and Somaliland also pledged to boost cooperation in a wide array of areas and they expressed determination to hold another round of meeting in Turkey in 90 days.
Source: http://www.worldbulletin.net
