Prime Minister Meles Holds Talks with Somali President

(08/01/2007)

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has held talks with President Abdullahi Yousuf Ahmed of the Transitional Federal Government on the current political and military situation in Somalia. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin, who briefed journalists yesterday, the two leaders noted that Somalia was now on the path to peace and stability after sixteen years of statelessness and exchanged views on future work to be carried out.

President Ahmed said that he recognised the importance of ensuring peace and stability through consensus among the various political powers in Somalia, and he hoped to build a strong central government with the participation of the Somali people.  

Prime Minister Meles said that the Ethiopian government would provide the necessary assistance to help realise the targets set by the Somalian Transitional Federal Government.

Both leaders have jointly appealed for the deployment of an African peacekeeping force in a bid to avoid a possible security vacuum as the Ethiopian defence forces begin to wind down their mission in Somalia.  

ENDS