EU Warns Somaliland Not to
Postpone Elections

European Union Envoy for Somalia/Somaliland, Mr George Marc-Andre

Hargeysa, 28 July 2007 (SL Times) - The Special European Union Envoy for Somalia/Somaliland, Mr George Marc-Andre, arrived in Somaliland on Monday. This was his first visit to Somaliland since being appointed by the EU as the organisation’s special envoy to Somalia/Somaliland, a post that was created by the EU only last month.

The EU Special Envoy said the purpose of his visit was to acquaint himself with Somaliland, and to check on how the preparations for Somaliland’s election were coming along.

Commenting on the forthcoming general elections, Mr Andre said that Somaliland should continue with the democratic process and finalize pending issues that are necessary for the coming elections. He promised that the EU will give financial support to Somaliland in order to make the election a success. He also stressed that if the election date is postponed, the EU may rethink its pledge to fund future Somaliland elections.

The EU special envoy held meetings with the president and various government departments, political parties, along with the new Qaran party, which is not officially recognised by the Somaliland government as a political party.

SL Times caught up with the EU Special Envoy, Mr Marc-Andre on Monday night at Ambassador hotel in Hargeysa, and had a chance to interview him.

SL Times: We were told that you met officials from Qaran party, is this true?

Marc-Andre: Yes, this is correct. We met a number of the political parties in Somaliland, and basically, discussed their election programs and policies and asked what difference they plan to make to the country and its development.

SL Times: Did you bring up the matter regarding Qaran party with the president?

Marc-Andre: No, I didn’t discuss any political parties with the president, but I did talk to the president regarding what the constitution states about the process in which political parties are allowed to take part in the country’s elections. And I think the constitution has made these things pretty clear, but these clauses, in the constitution need to be executed as directed.

SL Times: Have you raised in your discussions with the government today, the subject of the ‘peace and reconciliation conference’ in Mogadishu?

Marc-Andre: No, I haven’t. My delegation’s discussions with the government centered round the up and coming Somaliland general election, for which the EU provides major funding. We discussed at length how we will go about funding the next election, and how we, and the government, want to ensure that the elections take place on time, and not be postponed.

SL Times: Before your trip to Somaliland, we heard that you were coming to advice the government of Somaliland to take part in Mogadishu’s ‘peace and reconciliation conference’, is this true?

Marc-Andre: On the contrary, this is not true. There seems to be a misunderstanding regarding this. I have been asked this question before, and I would like to make it quite clear to all that, although, my mission as the EU special envoy to Somalia/Somaliland is to ensure that the peace conference takes place in a successful and peaceful environment, and to promote it among Somalis in the south, Somaliland is stable and very much peaceful, and its main concern for the EU is on how its next election will take place and on time. Also, it was the current chair of the peace conference, Mr Ali Mahdi, who announced Somaliland will take part in the conference. This was not the EU’s policy, but that of the conference organizers. Furthermore, our discussions with Somaliland government were mainly to do with the election and that was all we discussed.

SL Times: What is the EU’s policy towards Somaliland when its comes to the Mogadishu peace conference?

Marc-Andre: The EU’s policy towards Somaliland is that it must proceed and go ahead with the elections on time and that we help Somaliland in getting it off the ground. But if Somaliland postpones the elections, the EU will have to reconsider its position with regard to assisting Somaliland with anymore future funds. This we don’t want, and we must see to it that Somaliland holds free and fair elections on time.