New UN envoy to Somalia on first Puntland visit
Garowe, July 13, 2013 (SDN) — The President of Somalia’s Puntland government Abdirahman Mohamed Farole received the United Nations Special Representative to Somalia and head of the UN Assistance Mission (UNSOM) Ambassador Nicholas Kay at the Puntland State House in Garowe on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.
Puntland government ministers led by Finance Minister Farah Ali Jama, Environment Minister Abdigani Yusuf Elmi, and Public Works Dahir Haji Khalif, received Ambassador Kay’s delegation at Garow airport.
The meeting commenced at 10.30am, with President Farole welcoming Ambassador Kay to Puntland and congratulating him on his appointment as the new UN special envoy to Somalia.
Speaking at a joint press conference, President Farole said that discussions covered a range of topics, including Puntland Local Council elections on July 15, tampering of the Somali federal constitution, the national currency crisis over the Somali Shilling, the suspended arms embargo, and the new agreement between Somali Federal Government and Somaliland regarding the management of Somali airspace.
“I call upon the people of Puntland to show their pride, to partake in Local Council elections, and to vote democratically and peacefully. It is important to vote and to accept this new change, and you can vote for any political association you wish,” said President Farole.
“Somalia must restore its genuine and legitimate constitution, before any laws can be passed or constitutional review can be conducted,” President Farole declared.
Ambassador Kay said he is pleased to visit Puntland for the first time, noting the “increasing peace, security and development in Puntland” while congratulating the Puntland people on the first-ever Local Council elections.
“The UN is not part of the elections process, but we welcome democratization process in Puntland,” said Ambassador Kay, who is a former British ambassador to Sudan, Congo, and Afghanistan.
The UN special envoy is on a two-day visit to Puntland and is expected to hold meetings with UN staff, the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission, and to visit UN rule of law and access to justice projects in Puntland.
Source: Garowe Onine