British delegation pictured with Somaliland ministers at the presidency, Hargeysa. (Image courtersy of Qaran News)

Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 14, 2008 (SL Times) – A large delegation of British diplomats from United Kingdom embassies in Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen arrived on Sunday for a two day visit to Somaliland.

The delegation led by Mr.John Marshall, Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa were met at Egal International Airport by the Somaliland Foreign Minister, Mr Abdillahi Mohamed Duale, the Minister of State, Mr Saeed Mohamed Nur and senior members from the ministry including the protocol department.

Speaking briefly to the gathered media at Egal International Airport in Hargeysa, Abdillahi Duale stated that the British diplomats are on a visit to Somaliland as part of the strengthening of the ties between the two nations.

Abdillahi Duale, the Somaliland Foreign minister also revealed that the delegation will be in Somaliland for the next two days and will also visit the port of Berbera.

Prior to the British delegation’s departure on Tuesday from Hargeysa Egal International airport, the delegation head, Mr John Marshall briefly spoke to the local media and said that “in their two day visit to S/land, the delegation had extensive meetings with senior members of the Somaliland government, opposition, legislators and civil society.”

Mr Marshal said that the delegation had excellent meetings, in particular, with the Somaliland Foreign Minister, Abdillahi Mohamed Duale and Home Affairs minister, Abdillahi Ismail Ali and discussed with them in detail areas of mutual interest including the recent agreement between the three Somaliland parties and future co-operation between the two nations.

The delegation said that they were pleased with the outcome of their visit to Somaliland and thanked the president and the country for extending their warm welcome and hospitality in the two days they were in the country.

Qaran News contributed to this report

Source: Somaliland Times