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)
Those who think Somaliland is crumbling or uniting with Somalia should swallow their saliva and watch the festive mood of Somalilanders and their well-wishers around the world. Those who are dilly dallying and wavering from the idea of independent Somaliland should act swiftly and take note of the progress, the peace, the co-existence and the…
Garowe, May 21, 2013 (SDN) – The president of Somalia’s northeastern region of Puntland has hosted Australian ambassador to Kenya in Garowe on Monday, marking the first high-level visit by an Australian diplomat to Puntland. President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole welcomed the Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador Geoff Tooth, at State House in Garowe for…
Hargeisa, May 21, 2013 (SDN) – Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo has today cordially received the European Union’s Special Representative to Somaliland and Somalia Ambassador Michele Cervone in presidential palace Hargeisa. President Silanyo and the EU ambassador discussed issues of mutual interest between Somaliland and EU member states. After the meeting, Somaliland’s foreign minister, Dr….
Elasha Biyaha, May 21 2013 (SDN) —In a town not far from Mogadishu, vehicles slow to a crawl to negotiate the potholes that dot the town’s only tarmac road; ownerless donkeys wander about, scavenging for food; once-elegant villas with shining rooftops are now abandoned, with overgrown vegetation taking over their compounds. This is Elasha Biyaha…
(Reuters) – Somalia’s new government said on Monday it was pursuing talks to resolve rival claims for control in the south that have stoked fears of a return to the clan wars that pitched the nation into anarchy two decades ago. A local assembly on Thursday declared a former Islamist warlord, Ahmed Madobe, president…
ON MAY 10th pirate-busters celebrated the fact that one year had passed since a ship was successfully seized by Somali hijackers. Pirates have been attacking vessels passing the Horn of Africa since at least 2005, when they received a $315,000 ransom for Feisty Gas, a ship owned by a company in Hong Kong. Since then,…
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared bi-partisan support for Somaliland in the case of military action against the threat from neighboring Somalia and other external militants such as al Shabab. The Prime Minister delivered the keynote speech this weekend in the Ethiopian Parliament in front of Ethiopian legislators. Mr. Desalegn specified that Ethiopia is ready…
A young Somali journalist in Sweden named Amun Abdullahi got herself in trouble with the politically correct elite by reporting the truth about the radicalization of young Somalis in Rinkeby (a culturally enriched suburb of Stockholm), where they were recruited for jihad by the Islamic terrorist group Al-Shabab. The treatment meted out to Ms. Abdullahi…
The modern day Republic of Somaliland, which declared its Independence on 18 May 1991, is the third incarnation of the territory established by the British in the Horn of Africa in 1884. In June 1960, after more than seven decades as a British Protectorate, the British Somaliland Protectorate received its independence from Queen Elizabeth II….
Somalia’s clan elders have created a new mini-state and elected a Kenyan ally as its leader, a move likely to anger Mogadishu and sour ties between the two neighbouring countries. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has reportedly welcomed the development, strongly rejected by the Somalia government. “The Somali Federal Government regrets the way the people in…
There are more than 1,000 convicted Somali pirates in prisons around the world. Some of them end up in a UN-funded jail on the tiny island nation of Seychelles. The Indian shopkeepers along the beach have never heard of the prison at Montagne Posee, but a villager tells me to drive above a deep ravine…
Mogadishu May 19 2013 (SDN) -Somalia’s militant group, Al Shabab has responded allegations of targeting foreign fighters made by one of its top officials, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. In an Arabic language statement issued by Al shabab has said the some of its elements are seeking to create divisions among the Mujahiden. In last week…
Mogadishu May 19 2013 (SDN) -Somalia’s foreign minister Fawziya Yusuf Haji Adam has returned to the country from an official working visit in neighbouring Kenya. Government officials received minister fawziya at Adancade International Airport in Mogadishu and she told the media that the foreign ministry is working hard to re-establish foreign diplomacy with the international…
Presque Isle, Maine, May 19 2013 (SDN) – At college commencement ceremonies across the country, it is not unusual to hear stories about students who have overcome tremendous obstacles in order to receive their degrees. Some have fled war-torn countries, worked several jobs to pay for school or attended college in an area where they…
Somali’s Foreign Minster and deputy Prime Minster Fawsiya Hajji Adan Talks to cnn about Somalia’s challenges and hopes.
Close to a hundred members of the Somali federal parliament have signed a motion against Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon barely six months after he took the oath of office. Although the motion against the premier hasn’t yet been formally presented for vote in the parliament, the debate has caused tension in the capital Mogadishu….
Hargeysa Somaliland is celebrating 22 years of self-declared independence from Somalia. But the rest of the world has yet to recognise it as a country. Sitting on the Gulf of Aden, it is officially regarded as an autonomous region of Somalia – and the Somali government says it wants it back.Nazanine Moshiri reports from Hargeisa,…
The Horn of Africa has been ravaged by war and famine for decades, and now one of Somalia’s regions, hopes to become an independent state. Somaliland sits on the Gulf of Aden and is officially regarded as an autonomous region of Somalia. The two were, however, separate until 1960. During the civil war in the…
Borama 18.May (SDN) Tenth of thousands gathered independence square center of Borama celebrate excitedly for independence day of 18 May, students of universities, secondary schools National army ,and community sectors , young all woman and children come to gather side by side for one purpose in order to celebrate the independence of 18 May of…
Kismayo May 18 2013 (SDN)– A visiting IGAD delegation led by IGAD’s secretary general Mohbub Moalin has reached today the capital of Jubaland state Kismayu after meeting with the Somali government yesterday in Mogadishu. During their stay in Kismayu the delegation will meet with the Jubbaland government as well as traditional elders. The delegation will…