Interview with Dr Gaetano Palumbo of the World Monuments Fund (WMF) Dr Palumbo is the World Monuments Fund, Director of archaeological conservation: Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. He was a speaker at the Press conference organised yesterday in Paris, France by Somaliland Heritage, a France based association. On the sideline of the Press conference, I spoke with him and began by asking him about the history of the World Monuments Fund (WMF). His response: the World Monument Fund was founded in 1965 in the United States and since then, she has achieved an unmatched record of successful conservation of Monuments in more than 90 countries. Our headquarters is in New York, but we have offices and affiliate organisations in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal. What is the World Monuments Fund’s Watch List all about? Dr Palumbo: the Watch List was launched in 1995 as the World Monument’s flagship advocacy programme for the WMF. The Watch list is one of our organisation’s most effective tools. It is issued every two years and acts as a potent call to action on behalf of structures in urgent need of immediate help. How do you get informed about structures or historic and prehistoric sites and their need for help? Dr Palumbo: we get informed through locals or the governments of some countries and some times, through foreigners who have visited a part of the world and were attracted by a particular structure or historic site or sites. They send us information via the internet and we try to send our specialists on the field and after which, a committee of experts is gathered for thorough examinations, to find out what steps must be taken to help. The good thing is that, all appeals have always being for the preservation of extraordinary sites. What are the principal causes of the degradation and even destructions of Monuments around the World? Dr Palumbo: they are climate change, sadly always humans, especially through conflicts like that of Iraq or the Somali war, that has destroyed the only museum that was located in Somaliland and finally, the other factor which is also human induced, are pressures from economic development. This has been noticed principally in China and India and also in Latin America. But far less in Africa, however, with the gradual pick up of African economies, it is evident that what has occurred in most developing countries and region earlier mentioned, will certainly happen in Africa. And that is exactly why the WMF intervenes. We would like Africans to be aware of the importance of the preservation of their historic and prehistoric sites and all other important structures. For it will help define things clearly especially the perception of the World toward African histories and traditions. And this is also why the Las Geel prehistoric site located in Somaliland holds all her importance. Can you reasonably say your organisation has succeeded in raising awareness on the importance of Monuments? Dr Palumbo: Oh yes. The shining example is Africa. On our Watch list, African sites, have recorded a leap. Note worthy is the increase presence of sub-Saharan awareness, hence many of their historic and prehistoric sites are present on our Top 100 most endangered Monument sites for 2008. The selected African countries and their historic sites are Algeria: the Medracen and el- Khroub sites and also the Numidian Royal Mausolea located in the city of Constantine, Burkina-Faso : Loropeni Ruins, Egypt: Aqsunqur Mosque ( Blue Mosque) in Cairo, Shunet el Zabib in Abydos and the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor, Eritrea: Derbush Tomb in the city of Massawa, Ethiopia: Mohammadali House in Addis Ababa, Ghana: Wa Naa’s Palace in Wa, Libya: Wadi Mathendous Rock arts in Fezzan, Madagascar: Fianarantsoa old city, Mauritania: Chinguetti mosque, Morocco: Al-Azhar Mosque in the city of Fez, Nigeria: Ikom Monoliths of Cross River state, Senegal: Saint Louis Island, Sierra Leon: Freetown Historic Monuments, Somaliland: Las Geel Rock Art, Tanzania: Kilwa Historic sites and Zimbabwe: Bumbusi National Monument in Matabeleland. Identifying and enlisting prehistoric sites on your Watch List is noble, but does your organisation provide any financial assistance? Let’s say for example, the Las Geel prehistoric site in Somaliland? Dr Palumbo: Oh yes. But Somaliland and in particular, the Las Geel prehistoric site, is new, and should they ( Somaliland Heritage and the Somaliland government) make any such request, it will be studied. However, we do help financially. And since 1996, the WMF has disbursed more than $ 47 million for 214 sites in 74 countries. Elie B. Smith: thank you very much for sparing us some of your precious time to inform us about your organisation. Dr Gaetano Palumbo: You are welcome. Web site of the World Monuments Fund: www.wmf.org.

Well, the beel that mostly resides in Western Burco was responsible for voting for Riyale mostly the last time That was uncalled for, Mr. Red. I don't think no single one beel could be held responsible for bringing Dahir Riyaale to office. Every beel played its part.

Two old friends enjoying a beautiful Jumca at their local Masjid in Hargeisa

One wonders, if this sort of garbage was allowed on this Website, why not too long ago a fella nomad was banned for posting something about Ayaan Hirsi Ali and a particular clan?

“Waxaan u imi Magaaladda Burco aniga iyo niman kale oo badan oo kamid ah Mujahidintii Ururka SNM inaanu ka qayb Galno Aaska Marxuum Waraabe Cade oo xalay (Habeen hore) ku geeriyooday Burco.” Ayuu yidhi Axmed-Siilaanyo. Waxaanu sheegay inuu sii joogi doono Magaalada Burco muddo dhawr cisho ah. “Waxaan Magaaladda sii joogi doona dhawr cisho, waxaan dadka reer Burco la yeelan doonaa Shirar iyo is xog-waraysiyo.” Ahmed Mohamed Silaanyo source Published Jun 02, 2007

^^ A bit shorter than that I presume.

^^Becareful of what you wish for, my friend. Because the saying goes, It might come true. Not necessarily from Waraabe corner but from some "other" quarters who have scores to settle. As for Lascaanood, maamulkeeda yes Puntland ayaa hada haysa, laakin dad u dhashay isla magaalada oo rer Somaliland ah ayaa maamuli doona.

Hey Red, Sxb, savar salaama. Enjoy your time there.

Contrary to what some propagandists here have spewed, the accused men were never handed over to Ethiopia. Instead, they had their day in Court and were later released free after the Government failed to bring forth enough evidence to support the allegation.

^^Wow, how do you do it Mr. Magician?

^^Sxb, marka hore meesha reero isma haystaan ee waxa ishaysta waa maamulo. Maamulka Somaliland wuxu ku tagi karaa Lascaanood marka maamulka puntland meesha laga saaro ama isaga baxo. Taas ayuu Faysal u jeeda, yaan hadalka la duwin oo si khaldan loo turjumin. Somaliland hadii wax xasuuqayso 17kii sano nabad kama taliseen. Qofkii xaasuuq taariikh uleh ayuunba xaasuuqa ku kaca. Somalialnd taariikh uma laha.

Mr. Faisal clarified his arguments concisely in the same interview. How that clarification was simply discarded and not even mentioned by some people, is very telling indeed. But in any case this is the quote: Arrin yar ayaan doonayaa inaan cadeeyo taas oo ah anigu horta maan odhan shacbiga reer Somaliland ee Laascaanood hala xasuuqo ee waxaan u jeedaa cadawga ku soo duulay . Laascaanood waa lagu soo duulay oo waxa ku soo duushay Puntland, dalkan waxaynu ka xoraynay **** haddaan Laascaanoodna aan Puntland laga xorayn sideed u helaysaa? source Date: 23 May, 2007

"Arintaa waxba kama jiraan, Suldaan Maxamed-na ma tegayo shirka, waanuna ka wada hadalnay. Isagu nabadayn guud ayuunbuu ka hadlayaye, ma jiro wax Suldaan ah oo nabadayn u tegaya amaba arrin kale u tegaya oo shirkaa ka qaybgalayaa ma jiro" Suldaan Mohamoud Yusuf Xiiray Waraysi

Nayruus: Suldaan Mahamed C/qaadir is going to Mogadishu Are you sure about that? Suldaan Mohamed Suldaan Abdiqadir is an outspoken elder. His opinion is an attack, on principle grounds, directed towards the "House of Elders" "Golaha Guurtida". In otherwords, the suldaan isn't going anywhere, waa goolaaftan siyaasadeed between him and his cousin Abdi Waraabe.

^^I beat you to it, ehehe. I used to be good at this, you know. Very talented and artistic our sijui landers are. Look at the styles of the outfit them girls are wearing. The best I've seen so far. more pics

Sijui Somalilanders

Suldaanka Everyone knows that Somaliland is nothing but clan land admin, and that clan will go to the reconciliation meeting... End of story ^^Is that what Yates said as well? J/B Dadkooda waa inay dhinac ka raacaan intay wakhtiga haystaan, as the foreign minister told Kaluun on BBC yesterday. Wali daaqadii danbi dhaafka waa furantay.

Title: "US envoy for Somalia, Yates: Somaliland will take part in the Somali clan meeting " Somali Translation: Ciwaanka: "U qabsanaha Maraykanka ee Somalia, Yates: Somaliland waxay ka qaybgalaysaa shirka qabiiladda Soomaaliyeed" "Yates waxaa uu sheegey in Somaliland ay u soo Dirsaneyso Ergo Qabiileed oo u matasha Maadaama Reer Somaliland ay maamulkooda markii hore ay soo doorteen Dadkana ay matali karaan Dawlada. " English Translation : Yates said that Somaliland will send clan deligation to represent them [in the clan conference] because the people of Somaliland had elected their administration before and the people can represent the government " Asked whether Somaliland, which has declared itself independent of Somalia, would participate in the congress, Ambassador Yates said it was unlikely, based on discussions he had last week with the foreign minister of Somaliland. However, he said some Somalilanders may participate through the clan-based selection of delegates. Somali Translation : "Mar la waydiiyey Somaliland, oo ku dhawaaqday inay ka go'day Somalia, inay ka qayb galayso shirka, Danjire Yates wuxu sheegay inay arintaasi u badantahay mid aan dhacayn, ayadoo uu u-cuqsaday wada-hadal usbuucii tagay uu la yeeshay Wasiirka Arimaha-Debadda ee Somaliland. Wuxuse sheegay inay dhicikarto shakhsiyaad u dhashay Somaliland ay kaga qayb gali doonaan hab qabiil oo loosoo xulidoono ka qaybgalayaasha" Another sham. But this time, the big guns of the traitors will not attend. Names like Jamac Kaluun, Dr. Sifir and Gen. Ghaalib. Waxa meesha isugu hadhay waa xaabada xashiishkeedii.

^^ Awoowe, what I am interested in is the flesh of that particular offer that Somaliland can't refuse.

^Awoowe, I feel what the majority of Somali people feel about it. I am sure at some point in time in the near future the small minority will also do the same.

^^ Most likely it was exported to China as scrap-metal by now and returned in the form of ca$h which went into the deep pockets of Ina Riyaale and ended up in 571 hands.

Ethiopia's News Agency celebrates Y2K millennium with a new pictorial booklet about their victory in Somalia.

^^mijinta 571 does wonders

10. Somaliland – Puntland dispute (how to tackle the issue – explore the options - name ad-hoc committee drawn from nuetral and trusted statesmen to draft recommendation of how to proceed) 11. Somaliand secession issues (address their fears – give them incentives) What are your suggestions old man? Give us some examples as to what kinds of incentives the Warlords are prepared to offer to the Democratic state?

Is that a Graffiti work?