Tannock renews call for Somaliland independence at meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Tannock renews call for Somaliland independence at meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister

 

 

1st September 2011 — Ethiopia should take the lead and declare Somaliland – the former British protectorate breakaway region within the state of Somalia – an independent sovereign state, Charles Tannock MEP, European Conservatives and Reformists group foreign affairs spokesman, said today at a meeting in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

 

Dr Tannock said that a stable and sovereign Somaliland would act as a powerful moderate neighbouring partner to Ethiopia both economically and politically. He argued that many other major African nations, the EU and the USA, would also eventually support independence, but not until a major African Union nation makes the first move. It is also important to remind the newly independent Republic of South Sudan of its stated commitment to recognise Somaliland in exchange for the longstanding help it gave Juba in its liberation struggle from Khartoum. Historically Somaliland was very briefly independent in 1960 so it is legally a case of re-reccognition rather than recognition after Hargeisa, much to its subsequent regret, joined the former Italian Somalia in the south for an unhappy marriage which lasted until 1991.

 

Somaliland is a moderate Islamic nation with a small cohesive population and which has strong economic prospects with unexplored possible significant oil and gas resources and thorium deposits essential for the nuclear power industry. Its Soviet built deepwater port at Berbera could make it a complimentary trading ally to landlocked Ethiopia. Its functioning democracy would also help bolster the forces of moderation and stability in the Horn of Africa and countenance the Islamist insurgents in Somalia – Al.Shabab.

 

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Tannock said:

 

“Somaliland is a relatively peaceful, stable and economically growing polity. It is a world away from the failed state of Somalia where the TFG’s remit barely reaches beyond Mogadishu and which still faces the brutality of the Al-Shabab insurgency and the serious challenge of piracy.

 

“Western governments rightly do not yet feel empowered to declare Somaliland a sovereign nation without a clear declaration from a leading African nation. As the major force for stability, security and growth in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia has the ability to give a lead on re-recognising Somaliland independence, and I strongly believe that many other AU nations, and the EU and USA, would follow suit.

 

“Somaliland can be a partner for peace and prosperity to the Ethiopian people in an unsettled region. I hope that Prime Minister Zenawi will seriously consider taking the first step towards granting re-recognition of its sovereignty and independence. Somaliland is already effectively a functioning country and we owe it now the right to independent statehood.

[NGONGE]

Good stuff. I was wondering what happend to such news during ramadan. Good to be back on track.

[Jacaylbaro]

Xaajiga was in prison during the month ,,, Ciidii baa la soo daayay

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Tannock ba yidhi xiliyada ramadanta ba safro that's why bacda ramadan bu safray oo u gaadhay Melez iyo Ethiopia

[Jacaylbaro]

[Jacaylbaro]

“Western governments rightly do not yet feel empowered to declare Somaliland a sovereign nation without a clear declaration from a leading African nation. As the major force for stability, security and growth in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia has the ability to give a lead on re-recognising Somaliland independence, and I strongly believe that many other AU nations, and the EU and USA, would follow suit.

I like the word "re-recognizing" .....

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Jb charles maantu hargeysa ka so degey ma aragtay ma weydisay wuxu ramadanta u iman wayey ?

[Jacaylbaro]

Ethiopia Makes Case For Somaliland "semi-recognition"

 

¶1. © On the margins of a discussion with Acting AF

Assistant Secretary Phil Carter On January 30, Ethiopia Prime

Minister Meles made the case for "semi-recognition" of

Somaliland as a critical step necessary to enhance the

international community's ability to support Somaliland on

regional security/stability and in its own domestic efforts

toward democratization. Meles argued that the international

community's status quo relationship with Somaliland is

untenable and that Somaliland needs a way around the issue of

legal recognition to allow the international community to

"recognize some authority within Somaliland with which it can

engage."

 

¶2. © Meles accepted Acting A/S Carter's argument that

Somaliland's internal political dynamics over the past two

years have not helped their case, and agreed that the region

must get back on track and hold credible elections as planned

this spring. Still Meles argued that Somaliland's democratic

process cannot be sustained without some kind of interim

recognition which can allow for the provision of

international assistance to bolster Somaliland's own

democratic process.

 

¶3. © Meles noted that he has already broached the notion of

an interim- or semi-recognition, along the lines of what the

Palestinian Authority enjoys, with Somaliland President Kahin

Riyale, and that Riyale has become increasingly receptive to

the strategy. Meles argued to Carter that the next steps

must be for others in the international community to help

convince the Somalilanders of such an approach. Then,

Somaliland needs a "good sponsor" within the African

community to advance the cause. Meles suggested that

Djibouti would be the best choice, and acknowledged that

Ethiopia would be the worst (as the move risked only fueling

detractors' arguments that Ethiopia is bent on breaking up

Somalia). Once the strategy had support among African

states, Meles argued that the onus would be on the U.S. and

UK to make the Somaliland semi-recognition case to the

Europeans and others in the international community.

 

By Wikileaks Feb 2,2009 (09ADDISABABA260)

[Som@li]

Melez, if he has the balls, he should recognize, else quit meddling with somali affairs!