Djibouti: Siilaanyo sticks to Somaliland's Independence in Attending London Conference

[Mintid Farayar]

Djibouti leader holds talks with Somaliland president

9 February 2012

BBC Monitoring Africa

English

© 2012 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.

 

Text of report by state-owned Djibouti news agency ADI website

 

 

The head of state, Mr Ismail Omar Guelleh, on Wednesday [8 February] received the president of Somaliland, Mr Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo, who was leading a large delegation from his country.

 

President Silanyo, who arrived in Djibouti today and was welcomed at the airport by Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita, was accompanied, in line with his working mission, by a strong delegation including the minister for presidential affairs, Mr Hirsi Ali Hadji Hassan, and that of the interior, Mr Mohamed Nour Arreh.

Among the members of this delegation, is also the wife of the Somaliland head of state, Madam Amina Waris Cheick Mohamed.

Bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation were at the centre of discussions between President Guelleh and the leader of Somaliland during their meeting held at the Presidential Palace.

 

"My working visit to Djibouti precisely gives us the opportunity to strengthen our relations further", said Mr. Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo in a statement to the press at the end of his talks with the head of the Djiboutian State.

Many other issues of common interest were raised on the same occasion, the two parties having reaffirmed their commitment to work towards the maintenance of peace and security in the region.

 

Asked about the participation of his country in the London Conference to assist Somalia to turn the page of the endless fratricidal war and chaos, President Silanyo indicated that Somaliland will participate effectively in these sessions following an invitation from the host country.

"This, however, does not mean that we are giving in , in any way whatsoever, to what for many years have been our dearest desire, that of having access to the international recognition and our place in the concert of nations", he continued.

Source: ADI news agency website, Djibouti, in French 8 Feb 12

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Never expected less than that well said president Ahmed SIilanyo

[Mario B]

The man can only play one tune!!

[The Sage]

I think its quite clear that the game plan hasn't changed and that the conference represents an excellent opportunity to put forward his country's case to high level delegations from countries that are both strategically influential and desire to be active in the horn of Africa region. No brainer really.

[Mario B]

^Why would the world create another country with a potential Kashmir scenario on the border between SL and PL? It just gonna end in tears.

[The Sage]

^ Too bad that has happened several times in recent years. The newly formed republic of South Sudan has a serious and contentious border dispute with Sudan over the Abyei region that has caused conflict and is yet to be resolved and in the northern part of of the republic of Kosovo known as Mitrovica the minority Serbs want to rejoin Serbia. If it is in the interests of nations to extend recognition to other states, they'll do so regardless of the finalization of the status of borders.