By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – Preparations for the much anticipated talks between Somaliland and Somalia will start on Wednesday 20 June in London.
As part of its obligations, the official Somaliland talk’s technical committee is expected in London on Monday after their departure from Berbera airport on Sunday.
The 5 member committee is mandated with establishing guidelines of the final talks as decreed by article six of the final communique of the Somalia conference held in London on February 23rd this year.
During a press briefing held at the presidency in Hargeisa prior to the committee’s departure, the minister of foreign affairs Dr Mohamed Abdillahi Omar informed that the country expects international recognition and nothing less from the talks.
The five member talk’s technical committee which includes an opposition politician, legislators and ministers is composed of
- Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar Foreign Minister – Committee chair
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Hon Bashe Mohamed Farah- 1st Deputy speaker of parliament (House of representative)
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Hon Feisal Ali Warabe – Chairman of UCID Political party (Opposition)
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Hon Hirsi H Ali Hasan – Presidency minister
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Hon Mahmoud Ahmed Barre (Garaad) – Minister of Labour & Social Affairs
This all inclusive committee that was appointed a couple of days ago to replace an earlier which was solely made up of government ministers will during the course of negotiations with a similar TFG committee, establish the ground rules and agenda for the grand talks between the two countries that are estranged after a short lived and illegal marriage.
According to the foreign affairs minister, the technical committee will first and foremost inform the TFG about Somalilanders irrevocable decision for independence thus facilitate conducive negotiations for grand talk’s agenda.
While Great Britain is hosting the exploratory talks its other allies of Norway and the EU will need massive persuasion powers to see to it that the proposed talks go beyond the technical stage because the two sides have complete opposing visions.
Somaliland’s stand was made vividly clear last week during a press briefing by the official government spokesperson and minister of information Hon Abdirahman Yusuf Duale “Boobe” where he informed the TFG that “As for today and henceforth the gap between Somaliland and Somalia is like the sky and earth thus no ground for neither unification nor discussions of re-unification”.
Read below The full verbatim excerpts of press release
Press Release 14th June 14, 2012
Ref: www/WS/3/2012
In the course of one week, the prime minister of the Transitional Federal Government-TFG, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has dwelt on the proposed talks between Somaliland and Somalia, with frequent insinuations that the foundation of the talks is reunification of the two countries.
I presume that the TFG prime minister is among the post-unification generation thus imperative for me to inform him that the Unification of Somalia has never been realized thus Sovereignty of Somaliland is irrevocable.
If his fixation is the amalgamation or the going together of the two Somali regions in 1960 that should not mean unity
The Somali people who invented the idea of greater Somalia had reserved the word “unity” when the five Somali Speaking regions get united which was the cherished aspiration of all Somali’s wherever they were “This did not Happen”. In those times the political leadership of the Somali people had defined the meaning of “Somali Unity” and if it is going to be redefined today it’s for all the concerned Somalis to unanimously agree on that definition.
Nobody can be forced into reunification or any union, and as it pertains to Somaliland it is not worthy of mention it for Somalilanders decision is final. Did not the Somali nationalist Poet Ibrahim Sheikh Suleiman “Gadle” Say, “My people in the 60’s when you gave up your statehood as a souvenir to our brothers it was not stupidity but haste, you have not committed any crime but you wanted to accommodate the five regions in the creation of greater Somalia, you pioneered our unity and honesty”
The dream of the unification of the five Somali speaking territories has never been realized and everybody and went after his or her own interest and as per the unanimous aspirations of our citizens, therefore we as the Somaliland nation are after our own interests.
Somaliland has been a sovereign nation for 21 years with all the necessary trappings of a state. Further This union of the 60’s would not have occurred without Somalilanders who were then mindful of the welfare of all Somali speakers, pushing and shoving thus forcing the Italian Somalia to unite.
As for today and henceforth the gap between Somaliland and Somalia is like the sky and earth thus no ground for neither unification nor discussions of re-unification.
As pertains to the 6th article of the London conference and after major consultations in Somaliland between the government, parliament, intellectuals, political parties, civil societies, Diaspora, Traditional and religious leaders and ordinary citizens it was agreed that the nation enter into talks with Somalia.
Since unification went with the wind thus un-returnable and because Somalilanders are not prepared to lose their independence again as they did in the 1960’s as well as in respect to their unanimous decision for self-rule which is irrevocable, the government of Somaliland hereby informs that the only agenda of the proposed talks will be
I. To bless each other for a prosperous nationhood
II. To establish brotherly relations of two neighbouring countries and
III. To discuss future cooperation as two sovereign countries.
To this effect, the government of Somaliland has appointed a technical committee with the mandate to prepare and lay down the guidelines for the talks with Somalia.
The talk’s technical committee is composed of:
- Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar Foreign Minister – Committee chair
-
Hon Bashe Mohamed Farah- 1st Deputy speaker of parliament (House of representative)
-
Hon Feisal Ali Warabe – Chairman of UCID Political party (Opposition)
-
Hon Hirsi H Ali Hasan – Presidency minister
-
Hon Mahmoud Ahmed Barre (Garaad) – Minister of Labour & Social Affairs
Therefore, we ask our Somali brothers to stop thinking and talking about any other agenda that is opposite what Somalilanders have decided and made clear to all.
We also urge you, to embrace neighbourly brotherhood thus prosperity of our people and the demise of our enemies.
Abdirahman Yusuf Duale “Boobe”
Minister of Information and Official Government spokesperson
