Somaliland Government Condemns UN Security Council Resolution

Mr. Said Muhammad Nur, Somaliland minister of Sate for Foreign Affairs

Hargeysa, Somaliland, December 16, 2006 (SL Times) – Somaliland government rejected the recent UN resolution that lifted the arms embargo on Somalia and authorized the sending of regional military forces to protect the Baidoa based transitional government of president Abdillahi Yusuf and prime minister Ali Muhammad Gedi.

Somaliland minister of Sate for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Said Muhammad Nur, speaking to Somaliland Times said last Tuesday (12/12/06), that “The government of Somaliland has always stressed in the past that the partial lifting of the UN arms embargo on Somalia will bring dire consequences for the stability of the Horn of Africa and should be given serious thought and attention by the Security Council”.

The minister said, “Somaliland had long ago taken a clear stance rejecting the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia and had opposed it 100%. The lifting of the arms embargo is not in the interest of anyone in the Horn and will more likely lead to insecurity in the region. And this is our stance regarding this resolution and will always be the same”.

On other issues, the minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Said Muhammad Nur, was asked to comment on the speculation circulating in the media that the prime minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Meles Zenawi is planning to visit Baidoa? He said, “I have not heard or have any knowledge of this matter, whatsoever”. Again, the minister was asked by Somaliland Times on ‘reports that the Ethiopian government has amassed its forces on its border with Somaliland and on the ‘Guurti’ upper house of parliament’s recent request that the government brings before them such that will guarantee Somaliland that Ethiopian troops will not enter Somaliland?’ The minister said, “We, as the government have no reason to fear Ethiopia will cross into Somaliland, because we have fostered with Ethiopia a close, friendly and mutual relationship over the years, Ethiopia will have no reason to send its troops into Somaliland territory”.

The minister, commenting on the extent Somaliland would be affected if war were to erupt in Somalia said, “Personally, I can say that if war were to erupt in Somalia it will be for sure that Somaliland would be inundated with a huge influx of refugees fleeing the war. This alone will present Somaliland with a serious situation because we do not have the resource and the logistics to host large refugee populations, although the government has prepared strategic plans to confront such a situation, yet we will be, nevertheless, overwhelmed by the influx of refugees fleeing the war in Somalia.