Mogadishu, 01 Jan 2014 (SDN) -Somali president Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, has announced that the stalled talks between Somaliland and Somalia will resume again this month in Turkey while delivering his New Year’s address in Mogadishu.
Somaliland and Somalia have held talks in the past; but, it is over three separate occasions that talks were rescheduled since the last discussion as Turkey blames Somalia for rescheduling talks and particularly, the unstable political situation in Mogadishu
President Hassan’s New Year speech touched issues ranging from Al-shabab, the upcoming election in Puntland and the stalled talks between Somaliland and Somalia.
While commenting the ongoing talks between Somaliland and his federal government president Hassan said that the postponed talks with Somaliland government will resume in Turkey within this month expecting that a final agreement to be finalized.
Somaliland and Somalia have participated in a series of talks in Turkey last year, with the most last round of talks held in Ankara on July 8th 2013, when they agreed to form a joint committee to manage air traffic control and revenue sharing.
Meanwhile, President Hassan also welcomed the progress and the free and fair elections that is expected to take place in Puntland which will pave the way for choosing a new leader that will replace the incumbent president of Abdirahman Farole.
He encouraged puntland community to refrain from divisions and any acts that may lead the country to slide back to chaos.
He urged the newly elected Puntland lawmakers to pick the right person for the presidency and who will do a lot for the state. He reiterated that they should choose one that will work with the Federal government of Somalia’s current administration.
SDN Mogadishu
