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)
Kenya’s exit strategy from Somalia has hit a major diplomatic wall after Mogadishu developed hostility towards the new leadership of a newly formed autonomous region in southern Somalia. The Standard on Sunday has also learnt the reluctance by Somalia’s federal government under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to warm up to Sheikh Ahmed Madobe’s leadership at…
Kismayo May 25,2013(SDN)-Despite the IGAD Summit communique of the 22nd Extra-ordinary session on the situation in Somalia, Mogadishu is still provoking the Jubbaland Administration to catalyze insecurity, hostility and animosity among the clans, which will eventually result in the Jubbaland community give up in shielding Al-Shabaab from Jubbaland regions. This gives the impression that Mogadishu…
Addis Ababa, May 25, 2013(SDN) -Following the Extra-ordinary session of the IGAD Assembly of the Heads of State and Government on the Situation in Somalia held in Addis Ababa, IGAD tasked Somali Federal Government to ” timely convene and lead reconciliation conference with the support of IGAD while consulting key stakeholders in the Juba Regions…
Toronto, May 25, 2013(SDN) – Canadian rapper K’naan has long drawn musical inspiration from his troubled homeland of Somalia. Now he says he’s ready to make a film about his war-torn roots. The Toronto poet, rapper, singer and songwriter has penned a screenplay he hopes to direct and shoot in Somalia, about an artistic orphan…
Hargeisa, May 25, 2013(SDN) -This is how it ends for a Somali pirate: not with the bang of a rifle, but with a quiet fadeout into a sewing class, a vegetable garden and a basketball court. At least 34 convicted pirates are locked away in the remote city of Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared…
Statement of H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia 22nd Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of IGAD 24 May 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Statement of H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia 22nd Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of IGAD 24…
MOGADISHU (IPS) – In the Hamarweyne market, Mogadishu’s largest, 24 year old Maryama Yunis is finding success with her tiny cosmetic store. The young Somali has been in business for two years, selling everything from soaps and shampoos to lipsticks and eyeliners, and now she’s turning a decent profit.“As more and more young women in…
Mogadishu 23, May (SDN) – A spate of attacks by Islamic insurgents in Somalia’s capital is forcing investors, businessmen and aid workers to have second thoughts about expanding operations in Mogadishu. African Union and Somali troops pushed al-Shabab insurgents out of the capital in August 2011, fostering a relatively secure peace that Mogadishu hasn’t…
Nairobi, 23, May (SDN) – Kenya has been asked to rethink its support for the self-declared state of Jubaland in southern Somalia as the region and the Federal governments squabble. The situation has further been compounded with warlords drawn from various declaring themselves president. A group of Kenyan businessmen warned that Kenya’s security is likely…
Mogadishu 23, May (SDN) – The Elman sisters are bathed in the honey glow of Somalia’s late afternoon sun, the only sounds coming from an iPhone in a pink case that chirps continuously and the bursts of chatter from women upstairs. A sign in the corner of the office where they sit reads: “Real Men…
Mogadishu 23, May (SDN) -Somali members of parliament shelved a vote of confidence against the prime minister on Wednesday, but warned the government it would face further parliamentary rebellions if it did not do more to improve the economy and security. Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has led a cabinet, in place since the…
Hargeisa May 23,2013(SDN)- Somaliland government has on yesterday released a well-known traditional leader King Rabi Yusuf after Hargeisa district court sentenced him to two years imprisonment on 20th March, 2013. King Rabi Yusuf a local traditional leader was arrested upon arrival in the country from Mogadishu on 2 Febaury, 2013. The king was found guilty…
London May 23,2013(SDN)-The British government’s emergency committee met Thursday after two Muslim terrorists wielding a machete and a cleaver hacked a soldier to death on a busy London street Wednesday while yelling “Allahu Akbar,” in an attack that was caught on video and left the nation shocked and horrified. Prime Minister David Cameron says there…
Members of the Canadian Somali Congress have condemned the Toronto Star for repeated references to “Somali drug dealers” in its initial story about mayor Rob Ford’s alleged drug use. The Star‘s first article on the subject originally used the description “Somali” 10 separate times to refer to the men who apparently were involved with Ford…
Hargeisa, May, 22 (SDN) -Visiting French envoy to Kenya, Somaliland and Somalia Ambassador Etienne De Poncins has invited President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo to embark on an official visit to France. The invitation came after the in-coming French envoy to Kenya, Somaliland and Somalia Ambassador Etienne De Poncins met president at the presidency in Hargeisa where…
Dr. Edna Aden made the following speech at a conference at the EU headquarters in Belgium. Edna discusses in length the history of Somaliland and urges the World to recognize this democratic State.
Khartoum May 22 2013 (SDN) —Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir has pledged to continue supporting Somalia’s government. The Sudanese president made those remarks during a meeting today with a visiting Somali ministerial level delegation led by Somalia’s Defense minister in Sudanese capital, Khartoum. During the meeting, Somalia’s defence minister Abdihakin Hajji Mohamud Fiqi presented…
21st summit of the African Union (AU) – Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau and Madagascar have been banned from attending the 21st summit of the African Union (AU), to be held from 25 to 27 May in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A source close to the African bloc said the three countries were banned because of…
Hargeisa, May 21, 2013 (SDN) – Somaliland’s Justice and Welfare opposition party UCID has strongly condemned “irresponsible and misleading” political rhetoric against Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud over his remarks on Somaliland independence during the opening ceremony of a new center for orphans in Mogadishu which coincided with celebrations in Somaliland and elsewhere in the…
June will be the start of a new phase of United Nations engagement in Somalia, when the new U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) will replace the long-standing U.N. Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS), in place since 1995. In late-April, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tapped Nicholas Kay, a former British ambassador and Africa director at…