INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP GIVES IT'S FULL SUPPORT TO THE SOMALI GOVERNMENT>CNN BBC

[raadamiir]

Somalia 'contact group' urges end to fighting, new talks

 

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Diplomats led by the United States and Norway called Thursday for an immediate end to factional warfare in Somalia and talks between the interim government and the Islamic militia that now controls Mogadishu.

 

The new International Contact Group on Somalia said its priority was to support the U.N.-backed transitional government as the legitimate authority in Somalia but would "build upon existing positive relationships with Somali actors."

 

In a statement issued Thursday, the group agreed to work within the framework of the transitional government "to address the humanitarian needs of the Somali people, establish effective governance and stability and address the international community's concern regarding terrorism."

 

Idd Beddel Mohamed, the transitional government's deputy U.N. ambassador, called the contact group statement "good news."

 

Britain, Sweden, Italy, Tanzania and the European Union joined the United States and Norway in the contact group. Kenya, which has helped organize Somalia's struggling transitional government, was not invited, but the African Union, the Arab League, a group of East African states and the United Nations are taking part as observers.

 

"It is certainly a global responsibility to get Somalia back as a functioning state, because the void we have there is very dangerous not only for the Somali population but for the whole world," U.N. humanitarian coordinator Jan Egeland said. "It is now a place where children do not go to school, but where they become soldiers and terrorists and child soldiers at a rate which is just too scary."

 

Somalia's last functioning government collapsed in 1991, and the transitional government based in the inland city of Baidoa wields little influence. The Islamic Courts Union, a militia that backs the imposition of Islamic law in Somalia, seized control of Mogadishu last week from a U.S.-backed coalition of secular warlords, renewing concerns the lawless country could become a haven for al Qaeda terrorists.

 

Asked if the contact group could treat the Islamic Courts Union as a negotiating partner, Jendayi Frazer, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for African affairs, said, "We're not ruling that in or out."

 

"We would urge them to work with the transitional federal institutions as an immediate step," Frazer said.

 

The ICU has drawn comparisons to the Taliban, the fundamentalist militia that imposed a strict Islamic regime on Afghanistan and allowed al Qaeda to operate from its territory. The Somali group denies harboring terrorists and has sent a letter to the United States saying it is not an enemy of America.

 

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Thursday he disagreed with the U.S. support for the warlords, "who brought such misery and destruction to their country." But he said the world will be watching the ICU to determine whether it will allow individual liberties while providing law and order.

 

"What is important is that we find a way of getting the Somalis to work together to eliminate the violence that has plagued that country for 16 years and begin to restore some order," Annan said. "And I would urge them to work together -- the Islamic Courts, the transitional government and the population."

 

At talks in Nairobi on Tuesday, transitional government officials said they planned to invite a new peacekeeping mission into Somalia, where U.S. and U.N. troops became embroiled in the country's civil war in the early 1990s.

 

The transitional government also wants a partial lifting of the 13-year-old U.N. arms embargo against Somalia so that a regional peacekeeping force can be put in place -- a move Annan said would have to be studied carefully.

 

Mogadishu was the scene of a 1993 battle between U.S. troops and a warlord militia that killed 18 Americans and hundreds of Somalis. Frazer said any talk of international intervention would be premature, but each country in the contact group would be looking at the issue of the weapons embargo.

 

Contact group members are scheduled to meet again in Sweden in mid-July.

[raadamiir]

UN GROUP BACKS SOMALIA GOVERNMENT

 

UN GROUP BACKS SOMALIA GOVERNMENT The first meeting in New York of a new international Contact Group on Somalia has given strong backing to the transitional government there.

 

The government, set up with UN backing two years ago, has been unable to enter the capital Mogadishu in the wake of the successes of an Islamist militia.

 

After its first meeting, the group said it supported Somalia's institutions.

 

It also called for urgent aid to Somalia and said it intended to address international concerns over terrorism.

 

The UK, US, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Tanzania and representatives from the European Union took part in the talks at Norway's UN mission in New York.

 

Analysts say the new Contact Group is a effort to redraw policies towards Somalia in the wake of the Islamic militia's success.

 

The militia has seized much of southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, from warlords believed to be US-backed.

 

'Step forward'

 

The UN and African Union were invited to the talks as observers but the Arab League and Kenya were unhappy at being excluded.

 

Kenya has played a crucial role in long-running Somali peace talks, which led to the formation of the fragile interim government in the town of Baidoa - based there because the capital, Mogadishu is too dangerous.

 

No-one from Somalia's transitional government was invited.

 

The government, set up in 2004, has been largely powerless to bring peace.

 

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the New York talks were a "good step forward".

 

He praised the US for hosting them and for trying to formulate a new policy in the region.

 

But he added: "I don't think I would have recommended the United Nations or the Security Council supporting the warlords."

 

US Ambassador John Bolton said of Mr Annan's comments: "I certainly hope it is not an implicit criticism of American efforts to round up terrorists."

 

UN emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland said Somalia was a "totally forgotten and neglected crisis... maybe because there is no government to speak on behalf of Somalia".

 

Peacekeepers

 

The African Union special representative for Somalia, Mohamed Ali Foum, said there was "an urgent need to give support to the transitional federal government to help bring back stability".

 

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Stoere told the BBC future talks with the Islamists had not been ruled out and that there had to be an "open mind to engaging in dialogue inside Somalia".

 

He also said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had encouraged Norway to head up peace efforts in Somalia.

 

The Islamist victory in Mogadishu is seen as a major setback for US policy in the region.

 

The US has neither confirmed nor denied reports it backs the warlords but says it will stop Somalia becoming a safe haven for terrorists.

 

Somalia has not had an effective national government for 15 years, during which time it has been fought over by a host of different armed factions.

 

Somalia's interim parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of a deployment of African peacekeepers.

 

But the Islamists strongly oppose the move.

[raadamiir]

The new International Contact Group on Somalia said its priority was to support the U.N.-backed transitional government as the legitimate authority in Somalia

 

WHAT WILL THE COURTS DO NOW? THEY HAVE NO LEGITIMACY FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

 

IT'S EIGHTER WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT OR GO AWAY THE WORLD HAS MADE IT CLEAR.

 

DID THEY REALLY THINK MOGDISHU AND JOWHAR WAS GOING TO GIVE THEM AUTHORITY?

 

THE WORLD HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM AND IT'S TIME THE SOMALI GOVERNMENT DID THE SAME AS IT'S WORDS WILL BE BACKED BY THE INTERNAIONAL COMMUNITY.

[General Duke]

Its great news. The US has learned a great lesson from this defeat.

 

Now lets see this support in terms of money and material.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Britain, Sweden, Italy, Tanzania and the European Union joined the United States and Norway in the contact group. Kenya, which has helped organize Somalia's struggling transitional government, was not invited, but the African Union, the Arab League, a group of East African states and the United Nations are taking part as observers.

This is a deliberate game against -- perhaps a subtle disapproval of their behaviours of endless meddling in Soomaali affairs -- certain countries Soomaaliya ka harin.

 

Tansaaniya? A little hint Uganda needs to notice, to behave like her neighbour sister state, Tansaaniya, which bothers no body. Keenya iyo Itoobiyana irida ayaa laga xirtay, so does Yemen. The only country that has more than observable status in Soomaali affairs in that list is Talyaaniga. I don't know why it was added, perhaps it is dal Yurub ah.

[miles-militis]

MMA - Sorry mate, do not mean to derail the discussion, but just thought to mention that Tanzania is participating as a non-member state status representing the dark continent in the Security Council - a rotating seat by nations of the world other than the 5 regular members. It is Tanzania's turn now, thusly its inclusion in the meeting...it could well have been any incl. Ethiopia.

 

Now that you know that, give your own interpretations and do what you will.

 

Tata...

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Oh, saas miyaa? I didn't know that Tansaaniya was currently in the rotating Golaha Ammaanka. Now that you mention it, Tansaaniya is not the sole representative from Afrika. Gaana and Koongo are there as well.

 

So why Tansaaniya alone? Perhaps it is located in Bariga Afrika?

 

There is some deliberate reason why Itoobiya, Jabuuti, Yemen and Kiinya were diplomatically shunned, though.