From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sat May 22 2010 - 18:25:01 EDT
UN's Ban calls Somali government chance for stability
Sat May 22, 2010 4:58pm GMT
* Ban says world should support Somali government
* Says this is best chance for stability in years
(Adds quote, conference declaration)
By Daren Butler and Abdiaziz Hassan
ISTANBUL, May 22 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on
Saturday that international support for the current Somalia government was
the only chance to stabilise the chaotic country.
Ban was speaking at an international U.N.-backed conference which resulted
in a pledge to work with the government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed to
end the cycle of lawlessness and violence which plagues Somalia.
The fragile Western-backed transitional government of President Sheikh
Sharif Ahmed only controls a small area of Mogadishu, with the help of
African Union troops, and faces near daily attacks from Islamist rebels.
"The Transitional Federal Government represents Somalia's best chance in
years to escape from the endless cycle of war and humanitarian disaster,"
Ban told the Political, Security and Reconstruction Conference for Somalia
in Istanbul.
"The only way to restore stability is to support this government -- both in
its reconciliation efforts and, where necessary, its fight against
extremism."
Ban voiced specific support for Sheikh Ahmed, saying he needed to be in
power and needed to strengthen his leadership.
The conference declaration said it was critical to put a renewed emphasis on
economic recovery, appealing for the timely disbursement of funds pledged to
Somali security institutions.
It also expressed grave concern over the increase in piracy off the coast of
Somalia. For its part, the transitional government pledged dialogue and
reconciliation efforts.
The government is beset by near-daily attacks from the Islamist al Shabaab
group, which Washington terms as al Qaeda's proxy in the region, and Hizbul
Islam, another hardline group.
Ban called for the authorities in Somalia to overcome their differences.
"I urge the Somali authorities to demonstrate the will and commitment to
work together, resolve their internal disputes, and unite against the threat
of extremism," he said.
Speaking separately at the conference, Ahmed said work was under way to
elect a new speaker of parliament, and appealed for help from the conference
delegates in bringing stability.
"What we would like from you is to help us bring peace and stability to our
country," he said.
Somalia has been mired in violence and lacked effective central government
since the overthrow of a dictator in 1991. Islamist fighters have waged a
three-year insurgency that has killed more than 21,000 people.
Ban called on the government to improve public services, start paying
regular salaries to security forces and continue with efforts to build up
security sector institutions.
Somalia Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Jama told Reuters the security issue
needed to be prioritised to achieve stability.
"If we take over a province or an area, we have to create life, employment,
rebuild schools, hospitals and airports so that the people can say, yes we
have peace. That is when we can achieve permanent stability," he said.
More than 40 percent of the population -- 3.4 million people -- require
humanitarian assistance, including 1.4 million uprooted by the insurgency.
The international community, including the United Nations, has been trying
to resolve and contain the crisis for the past 20 years, with more than $8
billion spent in various forms of assistance including humanitarian aid.
(Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Dominic Evans)
C Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved
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