Ethiopian Foreign Minister Meets UN Special Representative to Somalia

Addis Ababa, Aug 18, 2013 (SDN) —Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom met Nicholas Kay, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Somalia to discuss recent developments in Somalia, and IGAD’s effort in assisting the peace talks between the Federal Government and political actors in Southern Somalia.

Mr. Kay expressed his condolences for the death of the four crew members in an air force plane crash in Mogadishu. Appreciating the peace efforts neighboring countries were exerting in Somalia, Mr. Kay said the UN was ready to support IGAD’s effort to start a dialogue between the Federal Government and Jubaland.

According to him, the UN is keen to see all remaining issues resolved and a political deal reached. Mr. Kay admitted the international community was not doing enough collectively, and he stressed the need to coordinate these efforts in reaching Somalia with assistance.

Mr Tedros said Ethiopia believed the positive role taken by Somalia’s neighbors would help solve the country’s problems and it was in that spirit that IGAD engaged itself in the peace talks between the Government and Jubaland. Ethiopia was optimistic that this could be done through peaceful means. Ethiopia would do whatever necessary to help, as agreement among the political leaders in Somalia was vital to consolidate the gains made so far against Al-Shabaab.

Source: Ethiopian Radio & Television Agency