Somaliland’s Foreign Minister in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa ,September 12  2010  (TNN)-The new Somaliland Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed  Abdull ahi Omar, paid an  offi cial visit to Ethiopia this week. He met and held extensive discussions with  St ate Minister for  Forei gn Affairs, Dr. Tekeda Alemu. During their meeting, the Foreign Minister  than ked Dr. Tekeda for  Eth iopia’s assistance in contributing to the successful conduct of the recent  el ections in Somaliland.

Dr. Tekeda gave credit to the people of Somaliland, to President Silanyo, and to outgoing president Riyale, for the peaceful conduct of the elections and for the subsequent smooth transfer of power. The need to ensure continuity was emphasized and the two officials discussed in detail the challen ges facing the new government in Hargeisa, both in terms of economic interests and from  extrem ist radical groups bent on undermining the peace and stability of Somaliland. There was agreement on the need to strengthen existing collaboration to deal with these challenges, and Dr. Tekeda  reit erated the readiness of the Ethiopian government to work together with the government of  Soma liland to ensure peace and stability in Somaliland.

He noted the long and intimate relationship that the new President, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud ‘Silanyo’ has had with Ethiopia during the struggle against Siad Barre, and during his time in  opposi tion in Somaliland until he had achieved victory in the recent and successfully democratic election.

He assured Minister Mohamed Abdullahi that this relationship would continue in the future. Dr. Tek eda wished the new minister and the Government of Somaliland every success in all their  endeav ors.

Meanwhile, Somaliland’s former president, Dahir Riyale Kahin, was also in Addis Ababa this week. He met with President Girma Woldegiorghis and Prime Minister Meles to thank them for Ethiopia’s s upport for Somaliland during his tenure as president.


Source:Waltainfo