|
STATEMENT BY MARK TONER, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON
Somalia Political Process
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
For Immediate Release
Friday, May 04, 2012
Less than four months remain for Somali leaders to complete the steps
they agreed to in the Roadmap to End the Transition, which lays out the
steps for replacing Somalia’s transitional government with a more
representative governance structure that will bring Somalia closer to
the security and political stability for which Somalis have waited for
too long. The United States is encouraged by the progress made so far,
however, several steps remain to be completed: selection of delegates to
a constituent assembly; approval of a new constitution, selection of a
new and smaller parliament, and the indirect election of a new speaker
and president.
Secretary Clinton made clear the position of the United States during
her remarks at the London Conference on Somalia in February when she
stated, "Attempts to obstruct progress and maintain the broken status
quo will not be tolerated. We will encourage the international community
to impose further sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on
people inside and outside [Somalia’s] Transitional Federal Government
who seek to undermine Somalia’s peace and security or to delay or even
prevent the political transition."
The United States supports the open letter issued on May 1 by the
special representatives of the United Nations, African Union, and
Intergovernmental Authority on Development that puts on notice all
individuals and entities who seek to undermine Somalia's political
transition that the international community will not tolerate such
action. The United States is following the lead of its African partners
and working to help Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and other
Somali leaders seize the current opportunity to make progress toward
greater security and political stability.
|
|
