GAROWE (RBC) The Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has said that it regretted that it did not receive any official invitation from the co-hosts of Somalia Conference in London which is scheduled to happen on May 7th, a statement from Puntland said.
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PRESS RELEASE
03 May 2013
Puntland Government values the commendable efforts and role Her Majesty Government continues to play in Somalia. Puntland is ready to contribute towards rebuilding a prosperous future for the Federal Republic of Somalia and its people.
Puntland contributes to peace and stability in Somalia. The State consists of an area in northern Somalia approximately one-third of surface land and 1,300-km coastline in Somalia. Puntland played an instrumental role in the national constitutional process and ending the transition in Somalia. The State has also been at the forefront in the fight against extremism, terrorism and piracy in Somalia.
For years, Puntland has expressed at international public forums its genuine concerns regarding the misbalanced international assistance to Somalia. As such, Puntland hoped that the London Conference of May 7, 2013, would propose a new comprehensive approach to international engagement in Somalia that takes into account existing realities on the ground and Puntland’s rights, as accorded by the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC).
President of the Somali Federal Government (SFG) H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud paid an overnight official visit to Puntland on April 28, 2013. Despite the short notice, a big welcome ceremony was prepared for the President’s delegation and the President of Puntland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud, hosted well-organized dinner at State House in Garowe. A large audience attended the State dinner from different sectors of civil society, which offered President Mohamud an opportunity to address the people of Puntland, and the Somali people more generally.
Puntland prepared a thorough agenda to discuss with the visiting SFG delegation. The agenda points included: a) implementation of SFG-Puntland Agreement of March 11, 2013; b) security cooperation; c) respect for Puntland’s constitutional rights; d) implementation of federal system; and e) serious concerns about tampering with the PFC, equitable sharing of international assistance, issues related to natural resources, and a lack of SFG consultation of national affairs with the Federated States, as sanctioned by the PFC.
President Mohamud and President Farole agreed in principle on: a) continuation of the national peace and reconciliation process; b) the eventual reintegration of Somali National Forces in a consultative process; and c) the implementation of SFG-Puntland Agreement of March 11, 2013. However, the SFG delegation arrived in Garowe without an agenda and posed major obstacles by categorically refusing to discuss the agenda of national affairs submitted by Puntland. President Mohamud’s delegation also presented obstacles to the speedy implementation of the federal system, most notably by opposing the voluntary formation of ‘Jubaland State’ in southern Somalia, in line with the PFC.
Puntland calls on Her Majesty Government to take into serious consideration existing realities in Somalia and the critical need for Federated States (Puntland) to fulfill their mandate under the PFC, on international assistance, economic matters, treaties, and important international accords (Article 54), and national security and federal affairs (Article 208).
Additionally, Puntland is seriously concerned with the tampering of the PFC, endorsed by the Roadmap Signatories in Nairobi on June 22, 2012, co-signed by the U.N. as a guarantor, and adopted overwhelmingly by the National Constituent Assembly in Mogadishu on August 1, 2012. Puntland calls on the SFG President, as Custodian of the Constitution, as well as the Speaker, and the SRSG, to launch a full inquiry urgently and to declare an explanation to the citizens of Somalia.
Regrettably, as Puntland did not receive an official invitation from any party, Puntland will not send an official delegation to attend the London Conference. Puntland will soon forward a Position Paper on Somalia to the London Conference II.
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