Ministerial Statement on consultative process on Somalia
Foreign Office Ministers Henry Bellingham urges all parties to stay the course and continue to engage on agreeing a workable solution.
I want to reiterate the UK’s fullest support for the consultative process being led by Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Somalia, Dr Augustine Mahiga.
His important statement following the first High-Level Consultation Meeting held in Nairobi this week highlighted a number of encouraging areas of common understanding between some of the key Somali stakeholders. It is regrettable that on this occasion the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) did not feel able to attend. The participation of the TFG is key to the success of this consultation and so I hope that they will attend future meetings.
This week’s meeting marks the first step in a much needed consultative process to end the current transitional period. Discussions were in the spirit of reconciliation and consultation enshrined in the Djibouti peace process. I urge all parties to stay the course and continue to engage on agreeing a workable solution to further our joint efforts to bring peace and stability to the Somali people.
Ambassador Mahiga continues to have our full support in his vital work leading the international community’s efforts on Somalia.