President Rayale Holds Talks With Visiting French Embassy Officials

Hargeysa, October 27, 2007 (SL Times) – The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Dahir Rayale Kahin held a meeting, yesterday, with the region’s French embassies officials visiting Somaliland. The delegation was led by the Djibouti French embassy’s political head officer, Yves Bertin.

The visiting French officials, from the Djibouti and Nairobi embassies were composed of six officials and arrived in Somaliland on Monday.

The delegation, speaking to SL Times said that their trip to Somaliland was a part of a fact finding mission, as well as, on the part of their government, a desire to establish and develop a collective friendship relation and links with Somaliland.

The delegation said that on their return, they will prepare for their government, reports detailing their account of the trip to Somaliland and recommendations for their government to take account of in relation to its policies for this region.

The meeting held at the Presidency was attended by several ministers from the government, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health minister, Fisheries minister and Culture minister.

In his opening address to the visiting delegation, President Rayale, expressed his pleasure at receiving the distinguished officers from France, the French embassy in the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Djibouti.

President Rayale also mentioned in his remarks of the account in the assistance provided by the French government during the Somaliland reconciliation conference in 1993. Rayale described the French government's support during those talks as vital to Somaliland's progression to a democratic and stable nation.

As well as French assistance during the talks in 1993, President Rayale mentioned that role played by the French conglomerate, TOTAL, which contributes to the economic growth and development of Somaliland.

In response, Monsieur Bertin expressed a complete satisfaction with welcome afforded to the French delegation by the government and the people of Somaliland. Bertin remarked on the political, economic and stable development of Somaliland as “very encouraging and positive”.

Also attending the discussions, and playing an integral role in the visit, was the new Somaliland representative to France, Mahamud Salah Fagadhe. Fagadhe is an experienced diplomat and former Somaliland Foreign minister.

Freelance Writer Ahmed Kheyre contributed to this report.

Source: Somaliland Times