|
|
 |
"Regrettably this is taking place at a time when from all indications there were reasons for optimism," said Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its weekly review of the political situation in the Horn of Africa region.
Apparently, the ministry referred to misunderstandings within Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), notably between President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein
Though the peace process agreed in Djibouti on 9 June 2008 was already moving fo rward, the ministry said: "The rift between the two top officials of the TFG has had an impact on the general situation in Somalia."
Ethiopia maintains a strong military presence in Somalia to support and train the army as well as other security forces of the TFG.
The Joint Security and High Level Committees called for under the Djibouti Agreement held their first sessions last weekend.
According to the ministry, real possibilities for genuine reconciliation between the two sides associated with the Djibouti process from the beginning have been apparent.
As a confirmation of this positive trend within the peace process, the ministry noted that the meeting between representatives of the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) concluded with the formal signing of the Agreement reached on 9 June.
The two sides also issued a communiqué in which they laid out the terms of reference for the High Level and Joint Security Committees.
Both sides expressed optimism over their meeting, which largely dealt with practical details, including the delivery of humanitarian assistance for which they committed themselves to ensure that there should be no interference.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday this week the UN Security Council authorised a further six -month extension for the activities of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
In an unanimous resolution, the Security Council also asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to work with the AU to strengthen UN logistical, political and technical support to help bring AMISOM up to UN standards.
It also stated a willingness to consider at an appropriate time "a peacekeeping operation to take over from AMISOM, subject to progress in the political process and improvement in the security situation on the ground".
"Paradoxically, what has been happening over the last week or so has been significant progress in the peace process on the one hand, in Djibouti, while on the other there has been an upsurge of unnecessary problems between the President and Prime Minister," said the Ethiopian government.
Meanwhile, the presence in Addis Ababa of President Abdullahi, Prime Minister Nur Hassan and Speaker of Parliament Sheikh Adan Madobe for talks throughout this week, according to diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa, indicates there has been little progress in resolving the dispute.
While it was difficult to predict when their discussions were likely to end, the sources said that there was no doubt they were at a critical point.
|
|
|
 Share your opinion or read the 0 comments written
 Print version
 Sent to a friend |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Top |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|