qurbejoog
Assad ready to quit power ?
On July 20, 2012 · In News
1:27 pm
..
0
Paris- Russia’s ambassador to France Alexandre Orlov, said on Friday he believed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had accepted he would have to leave power although only in an orderly fashion.
But the Syrian government swiftly denied this.
Orlov said that Assad, facing a surging uprising against his rule, signalled readiness to step down when he accepted a recent international declaration which foresaw a transition towards a more democratic Syria.
“At the Geneva conference, there was a final communique that foresees a transition towards a more democratic system,’’ Orlov said.
“This final communique was accepted by Assad. Assad nominated his representative to lead the negotiations with the opposition for this transition. That means he accepted to leave, but in an orderly way.’’
Syria’s Information Ministry quickly denied this, saying Orlov’s remarks were “completely devoid of truth’’.
Orlov further said his personal opinion Assad would not be able to remain in power.
“I think it will be difficult for him to stay after everything that has happened. But essentially, he has accepted that he will have to leave.’’
Russia on Thursday blocked a Western-backed UN Security Council resolution that would have contained a threat to impose sanctions if Syria did not comply with UN-Arab League Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan.
Moscow has repeatedly said any deal must follow the principles outlined at talks in Geneva on June 30 between Annan and veto-holding members of the Security Council, which Russia until now had said did not specifically require Assad’s exit.
“What Russia is defending is not Bashar al-Assad’s regime, but international order that was created in 1945 around the UN,’’ Orlov said.
“For us it is a matter of principle that goes beyond what is happening in Syria.’’
A senior Western diplomat recommended caution with respect to Orlov’s comments. “We have not heard Assad say he is willing to step down before,’’ the diplomat said.
“But what does he mean? Does he mean now or in two years time. We have to be cautious.’’ (Reuters/NAN)
London, July 29, 2013 (SDN) —Eritreans living in the UK are being forced by their own government to pay a “diaspora tax” that ultimately funds the secretive country’s network of influence in the Horn of Africa, including supporting the al-Shabaab group of militants in Somalia, an IBTimes UK special investigation has uncovered. The collection of…
Mogadishu, July 29, 2013 (SDN) —The Somali traders in Mogadishu’s markets have long faced down Islamist rebels and warlords demanding money. Now they say there is a new predator: the government tax man. Militias extorted cash from civilians during much of the last two decades of chaos. Now Mogadishu has a government in place, but…
This picture was taken in around 1970’s which was an elegant Oriental Hotel of Hargeisa,Somaliland Khadra Muhumed Abdi was a girl from Hargeisa,Somaliland her father was muhumed Abdi well known and wealthy man who was the owner of the Oriental Hotel of Hargeisa. Oriental Hotel was stunning and shinning Hotel in the heart of Hargeisa…
Hargeisa, July 28, 2013 (SDN) —Egal international airport in Hargeisa which has been under rehabilitation is expected to be opened next week, Somaliland’s civil aviation minister, Mr Mohamoud Hashi Abdi, has disclosed. Rehabilitation of the airport which started in March last year, and scheduled to have been completed by April this year, was delayed because…
Hargeisa, July 28, 2013 (SDN) —Somaliland Security forces especially anti-terror squad known as Rapid Reaction Unit (RRU) have been put on high alert in country following warnings that Al shabab militant might carry out possible attacks similar to Saturday’s attacks of Turkish employee residence in Mogadishu which claimed the lives of three people. Official sources…
Mogadishu, July 28, 2013 (SDN) —Somalia’s prime minister says a Turkish security official and a Somali student were killed in a terrorist attack on the Turkish consulate and relief mission. Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said Sunday that three suicide bombers also died in the attack Saturday, which he condemned. He said acts of terrorism…
On the windswept plains of sand, rock and shingle, that recede westwards from the Somaliland shore on the Gulf of Aden to Ethiopia’s stepped plateaus, is a rocky outcrop of caves illumed by vivid frescos of striped cattle, long-necked giraffes, and slender human forms. The rock paintings of Laas Geel are believed to be at…
Hargeisa, July 28, 2013 (SDN) —The Kulmiye administration of president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo has celebrated 3 years in office with a briefing on development activities attained within the duration. At a press briefing conducted by presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Suleiman Duhul the country was termed to be at a better status in all sectors as a…
Hargeisa, July 28, 2013 (SDN) —The following countries accept Somaliland passport to be used as means of entry into their countries . Somaliland has diplomatic missions in these countries , while most of these countries have either representatives in Somaliland or have diplomatic missions in the country . The names of these countries are :…
Mogadishu, July 28, 2013 (SDN) —A car loaded with explosives rammed into an office housing Turkish embassy staff in the Somali capital, killing three people, witnesses and officials said on Saturday, the latest in a series of blasts claimed by Islamist al Shabaab rebels. Al Shabaab was pushed out of bases in Mogadishu by Somali…
Hargeisa, July 28, 2013 (SDN) —Mohamed Bihi Yonis took office yeterday as Somaliland’s new Foreign affairs minister after his predecessor Mohamed Abdilahi Omer transferred as the minister of commerce in last month’s cabinet reshuffle. The new minister will serve as acting minister until the parliament votes on his confirmation. In a speech at the ceremony…
New York, July 27, 2013 (SDN) —The Un Security CoUncil extended the mandate of the United Nations expert panel monitoring compliance with sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea by 16 months. In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, the Security CoUncil asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to re-establish the eight-member Monitoring Group on Eritrea and Somalia Until November…
London, July 27, 2013 (SDN) —Double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah has thrown his fame and weight behind a campaign to stop Barclays Bank withdrawing from Britain’s £2bn remittance market, a decision campaigners say will have catastrophic repercussions for some of the world’s poorest countries, including his native Somalia. The runner has sent a direct…
Hargeisa, July 27, 2013 (SDN) —The government of the self-declared republic of Somaliland will stiffen penalties for human trafficking to stem illegal migration, particularly by the region’s youths. “Of course there is an article in Somaliland’s penal code dealing with this issue, but we think it is not deterrent enough. For this reason, the government…
The organizing committee of the annual Somali Graduation and Scholarship Program is pleased to invite all Somalis who graduated from Ohio high schools and colleges to the most prominent Somali event in Ohio celebrating their academic achievement. The Fourth Annual Ohio Somali Graduation Program will be held on Friday, August 9, 2013 at 6:00pm-11:30pm Hilton…
Millions of men, women and children have fled their homes in Somalia since civil war broke out in 1991. After more than two decades of continuous war, recurrent droughts and famine, over one million Somalis remain displaced. Some have settled as far north as they could, and reside in Puntland. Danish Refugee Council with the…
A Somali health organization announced Monday that members of the Twin Cities Somali community would gather Friday to express a “vote of no confidence” for Minnesota Health Commissioner Edward Ehlinger. The press conference is being organized by Isuroon—a nonprofit founded by Hopkins resident Fartun Weli that provides health education and advocacy for the local Somali…
The role of women in peacebuilding has long been underestimated in Somaliland. Since the country’s collapse and the emergence of Somaliland, citizens have been plagued by protracted political insecurity and militarised violence. The prolonged conflict produced gendered outcomes in Somaliland, with particular shifts enabling Somali women to participate in activities – such as conflict resolution…
Hargeisa, July 25, 2013 (SDN) —Somaliland’s two official opposition parties, Justice & Welfare Party-UCID and WADDANI party have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on yesterday with the aim of establishing a united front against KULMIYE led government of president Silanyo. In a joint press conference held in Ambassador Hotel in Hargeisa the leaders of…
Oslo, July 25, 2013 (SDN) —Norway has complained to the U.N. Security Council that accusations by U.N. experts that Oslo’s assistance to Somalia was a cover to promote the commercial interests of Norwegian oil companies were “completely unfounded and simply wrong.” The U.N. Monitoring Group’s annual report to the Security Council’s sanctions committee on Somalia…