US Press Ignoring London Conference On Somalia?

[xiinfaniin]

This is the closest mention I could find. It is in Washinton Post.

 

 

Clinton to meet Pakistani counterpart in London

By Karen DeYoung, Published: February 21

 

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to meet with her Pakistani counterpart in London this week in a sign that months of tension between their two governments may be easing.

 

The meeting, which U.S. officials said would take place on the sidelines of an international conference on Somalia on Thursday, is the first between Clinton and Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar since 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Afghanistan border in November.

 

The Obama administration has been noticeably quiet about Pakistan, which has said it is reviewing its relationship with the United States. Results of the review, being conducted by a special parliamentary committee, have been repeatedly delayed and are now not expected until after March 2 elections for the Pakistani Senate.

 

Pakistani officials have indicated that new guidelines would include a tax on supply convoys en route to the U.S.-led military coalition in Afghanistan. Pakistani border posts have been closed to the convoys since the November incident, leaving hundreds of trucks and containers waiting.

 

In the meantime, the coalition has depended on stockpiled supplies and expensive alternative transit routes. Last week, Pakistan said it would temporarily allow perishable food to be shipped to troops in Afghanistan.

 

Pakistan has also said it would continue to oppose CIA drone strikes against alleged insurgents in its western tribal regions. But U.S. officials have suggested the possibility of a tacit agreement to allow a reduced number of strikes against high-value targets.

 

The drone strikes are perhaps the most politically difficult part of any reset in U.S.-Pakistan relations. The Pakistani government, which has long given tacit approval to the strikes and provided intelligence assistance, has consistently denied that stance in public and helped to fan the flames of domestic outrage.

 

Pakistan is also resentful of what it sees as administration attempts to bypass its participation in U.S. talks with the Taliban. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who shares that resentment, visited Pakistan last week and on Tuesday issued a statement calling on Pakistan to aid his own “direct negotiations” with the insurgents.

 

© The Washington Post Company

[Baashi]

Statement by the United States Special Representative for Somalia

Ambassador James Swan

Briefing for African Media

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

 

The United States takes a comprehensive approach to Somalia – one that reflects the inter-related security, political, and humanitarian/development issues. Improving security, stability, and governance in Somalia is central to addressing many related concerns – including piracy, terrorism, human rights abuses, and underdevelopment. The United States’ approach places Somalis and Africans in the lead, and looks to regional organizations such as the African Union as a guide.

 

Security

 

Security must remain a priority to create conditions for political progress and improved humanitarian access. Recent progress against al-Shabaab in Mogadishu and areas of western Somalia rests on the extraordinary courage, professionalism, and commitment of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), along with Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and their allies.

 

In compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions, the international community must assist the TFG's National Security Forces (NSF) in developing a more efficient and capable security sector to withstand the security challenges that face Somalia every day. Since 2007, the United States has obligated more than $106 million to support the NSF – including payment of salary stipends to TFG troops, and train and equip programs. We remain committed to this effort.

 

It is also time to build upon AMISOM’s successes. AMISOM now has the opportunity to contribute to a multi-front operation to stabilize the situation in Somalia, help end al-Shabaab’s imposition of draconian social control on subject populations, and overturn its ban on the delivery of vital humanitarian relief. To this end, we support in principle an expansion of AMISOM’s mandate and a commensurate increase in its force levels, along with force enablers.

 

The United States has been a steadfast supporter of AMISOM since its inception. Since 2007, the United States has obligated nearly $340 million in voluntary assistance to AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), and provided approximately $150 million for its share of assessed costs for the UN Support Office for the AU Mission in Somalia (UNSOA). The cost of an expanded AMISOM mission, augmented troop levels and associated logistics included, will significantly increase the assessed costs for all UN Member States. Furthermore, with the proposed troop increase, the donor community will be faced with tens of millions in additional bilateral costs to train and equip the new forces. Hence, we must be realistic about the costs of an expanded AMISOM – and about the urgent need for new, significant donors to help cover these expenses.

 

Political

 

The political track is also showing some encouraging signs of progress. The United States very much welcomes the results of the Garowe II constitutional conference, held in Garowe, Puntland, Feb. 15-17. This meeting was a continuation of the Djibouti Peace Process, as further shaped by the June 2011 Kampala Accord, the September 2011 Roadmap to end the Transition, and the December 2011 Garowe Principles. The Garowe II meeting helpfully broadened participation to included additional civil society representatives, and enshrined their role in selection of the Independent Interim Electoral Commission, and in the new Constituent Assembly and Parliament.

 

The Somali Roadmap signatories and the international community are unified in the view that the transition must end on August 20, 2012. Garowe offers valuable focus and precision to guide completion of the most important Roadmap tasks necessary to end the transition on schedule. The road ahead is clear and both Somalis and the international community must now roll up our sleeves to ensure that agreed steps are implemented. That means supporting efforts by the TFG and UN to continue to expand political dialogue to include local leaders. It also means sending a clear signal that the international community will not tolerate spoilers.

 

Humanitarian

 

The protracted humanitarian crisis in Somalia – highlighted by the famine in summer 2011 – underscores the urgent need for capable governance for the benefit of the people that can only come from improved security and a stable political settlement. The announcement of the end of the famine – as technically defined – reflects a massive international humanitarian response, as well as the good fortune of an exceptionally good short rainy season. Nonetheless, millions of Somalis remain in fragile conditions of food insecurity. Al-Shabaab’s expulsion of relief agencies from areas it controls further contributes to the suffering of the people.

 

Continued international support will be required. The United States has provided approximately $210 million in humanitarian assistance for Somali since early 2011. We remain committed to additional assistance to respond to needs, and to bridging quickly to recovery, reconstruction, and development.

 

Local Administration and Stabilization

 

The United States believes a key priority that straddles security, politics, and recovery is how to govern and assist in areas recaptured from al-Shabaab. These include locations in the outskirts of Mogadishu, as well as new locations in western and southern Somalia. It is urgent to avoid a security and governance vacuum in these locations, and to provide a rapid recovery where al-Shabaab has left.

 

We welcome the TFG’s strategy for reconciliation and stabilization in south and central Somalia, especially its emphasis on both “bottom up” grassroots governance as well as the need for links back to the central government. We recognize as well that this work should be integrated with other efforts to encourage inclusive governance in Somalia’s regions, including IGAD initiatives.

 

No matter how detailed these plans are, their success will be far from certain if local administrators are unable to provide law and order and deliver a rapid “peace dividend.” The United States is contributing to this effort through its “Transition Initiatives for Stabilization” program, which supports community development projects in Mogadishu’s Benadir Region, Somaliland, Gedo, and Puntland. But much more needs to be done – and quickly.

 

London Conference

 

Finally, the United States welcomes the February 23 London Conference as an occasion to galvanize high-level international attention for Somalia at this moment of opportunity. London will be anchored in processes led by the region and the African Union, and coordinated by the United Nations with strong support from international partners. We support the agenda to address key issues including: support for AMISOM and TFG security forces; political reforms to end the transition; local administration and stabilization programs; improved transparency and accountability; enhancement of counter-terrorism and counter-piracy measures; a reaffirmed commitment to humanitarian response; and refinement of international architecture to guide our future collective efforts on Somalia. As with all international meetings, post-conference action will be the true test of success in London – and we are fully committed to the hard work that will follow. ((END))

 

http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/pr_20120221.html

[Baashi]

Xiin,

 

Awoowe we are in the middle of the so-called "silly season" -- election year 2012. With GOP presidential hopefuls stepping on each other's toes with contraceptive, Obama's theology, and Michigan's trees being the "right height, Iran's manuevers, Israel's threat to strike Iran, gas price rising, UK PM's preoccupation in a galaxy far away in eastern Africa has no room for the crowded belletin board.

 

That said, don't forget to tune into GOP debate in Arizona 2night 8 ET. Newt will be provacative and when Newt tries to be provacative his adverbs will make a splash -- watch the adverbs in each sentence he utters. Other political junkies will tune in for sure

 

Somalia may come up...you never know.

[Gabbal]

I am not sure it is beneficial for Somalia to carve a niche in American public eye at this time. Given all the setbacks in the past and the low American tolerance for long attention span, it is best now that Somalia holds the interest of a select number of government agencies and its bureaucracies that could provide important socio-political development aid. Somalia already has the interest of these entities and that is all required from the United States at this juncture.

[uchi]

Why do they think Somalia is irrelevant? They can't be that busy with the GOP, give me a break~

[Timur]

Direct US involvement has not yet been established in the form of money. When US companies get involved, you will hear about Somalia like its America's neighbor or something.