Somaliland says it is ready for conditional talks with Somalia's Govt

HARGEISA, Somalia - Somaliland says is ready for negotiations with Somalia over reconciliation after many years of a breakout, the region's leader Muse Bihi Abdi reportedly told envoys in the wake of calls to have the state resume talks with Somalia, over three decades after a nasty divorce.

Muse Bihi Abdi, reports indicate, told envoys from Norway and Turkey that he will welcome negotiations between Mogadishu and Hargeisa provided that certain conditions are fulfilled. Earlier, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had expressed a desire to initiate talks between the two parties.

Hassan Sheikh, who had pledged to invest in reconciliation when he took over from Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, noted that there was a need to have the two sides resume talks for the sake of uniting the people of the federal republic of Somalia after years of instability.

But for three talks to succeed, Muse Bihi Abdi noted, Somalia ought to implement all previous agreements which were violated, including but not limited to involving international mediators for the talks to succeed. He wants an independent secretariat to be established for the coordination of mediation talks.

For this to happen, he added, both teams ought to set clearly the agenda in the presence of the independent secretariat, with primary issues given priority. This, he added, will pave way for a meaningful dialogue that will be agreeable to all parties for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had held a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Yilmaz, Norwegian chargé d’affaires Haakon Svane, Turkey's Special Representative Aykut Kumbarolu, and Norway's Special Representative, Ms. Heidi Johansen in Mogadishu.

Hassan Mohamud noted that his administration's foreign policy doctrine, “ Somalia at peace with itself and the World," is aligned to readdresses the decades-long Somaliland issue. Muse Bihi was a member of the defunct Somalia Air Force at the time of civil war during the reign of Siad Barre.

Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1990 following the civil war and since then, it has been leading a parallel government which is, however, not recognized internationally. The administration has a functional central bank, legislator, and even judiciary.

The breakaway northern region has been pushing for international recognition for the last three decades which doesn't seem forthcoming. Somalia on the other hand maintains Somaliland remains part of her territory, warning that attempts for recognition will be paralyzed at the United Nations Security Council summit.

GAROWE ONLINE