SOMALIA: UN Envoy to Somalia Visits Puntland
Garowe, Oct 21, 2013 (SDN) -A delegation led by the United Nations Special Representative to Somalia and head of the UN Assistance Mission (UNSOM) Ambassador Nicholas Kay arrived in Puntland capital of Garowe on Sunday.
After landing at Garowe International Airport, he was received by Puntland government Ministers including Interior Minister Gen. Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Ilkajir, Security Minister Col. Khalif Isse Mudan, Finance Minister Mr. Farah Ali Jama, Planning and International relations Minister Mohamud Aideed Dirir, Health Minister Dr. Ali Abdullahi Warsame and Minister of Education Abdi Farah Saed Juha who also attended a meeting that Ambassador Kay held with Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole at Puntland State House in Garowe.
Speaking at a joint Press conference, President Farole said that they have discussed the upcoming Puntland Presidential Elections, and the Somali reconciliation efforts, state-building and security.
“We have discussed a number of issues regarding Puntland elections which would be a traditional one where the community leaders and elders will play a large role in selecting Members of Parliament in accordance with Puntland constitution since we suspended the first-ever democratic elections,” said President Farole. “The government’s role is limited when it comes to the selection of MPs and we assured that Puntland government will smoothly facilitate the election process”.
“We made clear to the UN delegation that we will push ahead with the democratization program if we return to power in the upcoming presidential elections,” President Farole declared.
Ambassador Kay firstly expressed his felicity about his second visit to Puntland as the UN Special envoy to Somalia and told that President Farole has given strong assurances to him as Presidential candidates can campaign freely where they want in Puntland.
He also said that women representation in parliament should be a great step, urging Puntland traditional elders to offer good opportunities to women during the selection process.
On July 13, Nicholas Kay, a former British Ambassador to Sudan, Congo and Afghanistan paid his first visit to Puntland and expressed his delight with the increasing peace, security and development in the Somalia’s northeastern regions, Puntland.
Source: Garoweonline