webmaster
© Copyright DEHAI-Eritrea OnLine, 1993-2010
All rights reserved
From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Tue Aug 10 2010 - 07:55:27 EDT
Iranian FM, IGAD Secretary-General Discuss Solutions to Somali Crisis
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and
Secretary-General of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
Mahboub Ma'alim discussed ways to resolve the ongoing crisis in Somalia.
Tuesday 10 Aug 2010
During the meeting held here in Tehran on Sunday, the two sides explored
ways to help Somalia resolve the existing crisis and restore peace, security
and tranquility in the African state.
Mottaki lauded the efforts made by IGAD to solve the problem, and stated,
"The Era of crisis, insecurity, war and instability of the Somali people as
a historical and influential nation in eastern Africa should come to an
end."
He noted that further institutionalization of IGAD's efforts and regional
countries' commitment can open a way out of the present crisis.
The Iranian minister added that the Somali people should take control of
their country's affairs and management.
Meantime, Mottaki renewed Iran's preparedness to help resolve the crisis and
establish peace and tranquility in Somali.
During the meeting, Ma'alim hailed Iran's goodwill efforts to help resolve
Somalia's problems, and said, "We attach much value to the goodwill efforts
of the Islamic Republic of Iran in utilizing its valuable experiences and
high capacities for helping the IGAD region."
The Iranian government has long sought to expand ties and cooperation with
the Black continent.
Tehran is eager to expand and strengthen relations with African states more
than ever, Ahmadinejad said at the start of a bi-nation tour of Africa in
April 2010 which took him to Zimbabwe and Uganda.
Iran has been accepted as an observing member of the African Union and has
shown an active presence in AU summit meetings.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa was
created in 1996 to supersede the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and
Development (IGADD) which was founded in 1986.
The recurring and severe droughts and other natural disasters between 1974
and 1984 caused widespread famine, ecological degradation and economic
hardship in the Eastern Africa region.
Although individual countries made substantial efforts to cope with the
situation and received generous support from the international community,
the magnitude and extent of the problem argued strongly for a regional
approach to supplement national efforts.
In 1983 and 1984, six countries in the Horn of Africa - Djibouti, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda - took action through the United Nations to
establish an intergovernmental body for development and drought control in
their region.
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government met in Djibouti in January
1986 to sign the Agreement which officially launched IGADD with Headquarters
in Djibouti. The State of Eritrea became the seventh member after attaining
independence in 1993.
In April 1995 in Addis Ababa, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
made a Declaration to revitalize IGADD and expand cooperation among member
states.
On 21 March 1996 in Nairobi the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
signed "Letter of Instrument to Amend the IGADD Charter / Agreement"
establishing the revitalized IGAD with a new name "The Intergovernmental
Authority on Development".
The Revitalized IGAD, with expanded areas of regional cooperation and a new
organizational structure, was launched by the IGAD Assembly of Heads of
State and Government on 25 November 1996 in Djibouti, the Republic of
Djibouti.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----