EU appoints first Ambassador to Somalia

[Chimera]

The EU is gearing up its presence in Somalia by nominating the new EU Special Envoy to Somalia, Michele Cervone d'Urso, as the first EU Ambassador to Somalia. The top diplomat, who assumed his duties on the 21st of September 2012 and succeeds the former EU Representative to Somalia Georges-Marc André, has confirmed to the Somali authorities that he will hand over his credentials during his next visit to the country and that he will open a new chapter in the relations between Somalia and the EU, aiming at a true and balanced partnership.

 

During his first visit to Somalia on 22nd and 23th of September, Michele Cervone d'Urso, has met the newly elected President and the Speaker of the new Federal Institutions as well as the leadership of the regional authorities in Hargeisa and Garowe. As former Head of the EU Delegation to Yemen, Michele Cervone d'Urso has assured his Somali partners he comes with a good knowledge of the regional challenges and that he agrees on the need to provide immediate support the soon to be formed Governement. He emphasised the need for more Somali ownership in the Somali relations with the EU, but also with the regional partners and the international community as a whole.

 

The EU Special Envoy also met representatives of civil society in Somaliland and Puntland where he called for increased political space for women and respect of Human Rights, including the rights of refugees, as well as more support for interregional grassroots initiatives aiming at reconciliation.

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[Maarodi]

Chi thanks for all the good news! Somalia is on the up and up :cool:

 

ManshaAllah, we're doing bigger and better things.

[Chimera]

I'm waiting for the Red Dragon (China), then i'll be doing the macarena.

 

A Turkish/Chinese block would be a healthy counterweight to a potential dependency on the west in the early years of this transformation period, see the dilemma of Malawi, we don't want that.