New chapter in UN-Somaliland cooperation

Hargeysa, Somaliland, December 2, 2006 – A two day conference between 15 United Nations Agencies working in Somaliland and thirteen ministries, in which the two sides discussed issues related to cooperation, aid, refugee status was concluded with what the minister of Planning and the UN Agencies delegation described as success.

The two sides during their two day conference discussed increase in cooperation between the agencies and the government of Somaliland, the enlargement of UN agencies functions, the increase in aid and the status of refugees from Somalia in Somaliland.

Minister of Planning, Mr. Ali Ibrahim Mohamed (Ali Sanyare), and Mr. Eric Lorache in a joint press conference held here on Wednesday, announced that they have agreed to open a new chapter in the cooperation between the two sides and the pattern that they will follow to ensure that aid reaches the people it is intended for.

Mr. Eric Lorache told the media that the status of UN agencies office in Somaliland will be raised in order to facilitate their functions and to enhance decisions current offices used to wait from their Nairobi offices. He added that UN agencies will respect and cooperate with the government of Somaliland in the implementation of the five year plan that is currently being prepared by the Ministry of Planning.

On the issue of the status of refugees coming from Somalia and staying here in Somaliland, the minister of Planning said, "We have discussed this issue in great length but we have not reached any agreement. No one can live in a foreign country without having an identity either as a refugee or an asylum seeker. Somaliland will continue to provide humanitarian aid, support and treatment to refugees from Somalia until an agreement is reached with the United Nations agencies."

UN delegation leader and head of UNDP office for Somalia/Somaliland, Mr. Eric Lorache speaking about the issue said, "In our discussion which were very deep we have found out the core of our differences regarding people who come from Somalia and are in Somaliland, who are considered as refugees by the government of Somaliland. There are precedents and similar issues that had been solved in other countries. Now that we know the problem, we are sure that we will be reaching some sort of solution in the future. We have agreed to continue our discussions."

On donor aid to Somaliland, the Minister said, "There is a lot of change in the attitude of donor countries towards Somaliland and we hope that there will be a change in the aid pattern in amount that will be provided to Somaliland. The new changes are expected to be seen in the development programmes of Somaliland, which will be solely for the country.

The minister described as a success that the UN agencies have clarified their position towards Somaliland and the finances they are to provide for development for the year 2007, which is a great success by itself.

President Dahir Rayale Kahin received the UN agencies delegation at the presidency on Wednesday night, where the minister of Planning and the delegation leader briefed him on their discussions and the readiness of UN agencies to increase their cooperation with Somaliland.

President Rayale told the agencies and their leader on the need to create jobs for the 750,000 Somaliland refugees who returned voluntarily to the country without getting any tangible or needed support.

The president said, "The people of Somaliland whose country was totally destroyed have not got sufficient international support to rebuild their country. We are sorry that the security category status of Somaliland has not been changed by the United Nations although the security situation in Somaliland is far better than the one in Nairobi."

The President requested that the UN agencies balance their programmes in the west and east regions of the country and emphasized the region of Sanaag.