Apr 09, 2013

Somaliland: Talks About Cooperation Area To Continue In Turkey


Initiated in February 2012 at the London conference on Somalia talks on the areas of cooperation, such as borders, security, and trade between Somaliland and Somalia continue in Turkey. The Somaliland delegation noted that the issue of Somaliland’s sovereignty is not on the agenda.

Below is an article published by AllAfrica:

Somaliland's delegation for the talks with Somalia being hosted by Turkey arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday en route for Ankara. The delegation, led by President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo, includes his wife, Amina Mohamed Jirdeh 'Amina Weris', Foreign Minister Dr. Omar and three other ministers as well as the leader of one of the opposition parties (UCID), Engineer Feisal Ali Warabe. The other opposition leader, Parliamentary Speaker Abdirahman Irro of Wadani is already in Europe and is expected to join the delegation in Turkey.

Before leaving Hargeisa, President Silanyo reiterated that the issue of Somaliland's sovereignty will not be on the agenda in the talks, which Somaliland officials say should focus on possible areas of cooperation such as borders, security and trade. The talks were initiated at the February 2012 London conference on Somalia and President Sheikh Sharif and President Silanyo later signed a four point declaration in Dubai to continue the discussions. Further talks were delayed by the change in the government in Somalia. There were expectations that the talks might be resumed at the Conference on Somalia being held in London in May but Somaliland has announced it will not be attending.