TOP UN ENVOY APPEALS FOR DIASPORA SUPPORT FOR SOMALI PEACE DEAL

TOP UN ENVOY APPEALS FOR DIASPORA SUPPORT FOR SOMALI PEACE DEAL New York, Sep 22 2008 5:10PM The top United Nations envoy to Somalia today called on the diaspora for its support of efforts to consolidate peace and stability in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation.

In a letter from New York, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, updated the diaspora on recent steps towards achieving peace in Somalia, which has not had a functioning government in nearly two decades.

"Once again we count on your strong backing for the peace efforts in Somalia and thank you for all your hard work making Somalia a stable and successful country which we believe will soon regain its dignity and be free from violence and chaos," he wrote.

Last week, the International Contact Group (ICG) – chaired by Mr. Ould-Abdallah and comprised of countries and organizations supporting the consolidation of peace in Somalia – has met in neighbouring Djibouti to discuss how to put a recent reconciliation agreement by warring Somali political groups into practice.

That pact, the so-called Djibouti Agreement, was signed last month between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the rebel group known as the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS).

Two key committees, the High Level Committee and the Joint Security Committee, set up under the deal wrapped up their second meeting yesterday, during which they discussed practical ways to implement the Agreement.

The Joint Security Committee is tasked with implementing security arrangements while the High Level Committee deals with political cooperation, justice and reconciliation.
2008-09-22 00:00:00.000

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