Sana’a Forum committed to Somalia peace and stability

(26/02/2007)

The leaders of the member states of the Sana’a Forum for Cooperation have expressed their commitment to assisting in the restoration of peace and stability in Somalia.

Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of the Sudan, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, President of the Republic of Somalia, and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, attended the fifth Summit of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation in Addis Ababa today.

The leaders recognised the new positive opportunity that has been created in Somalia, and backed all the related decisions of IGAD, the AU and the UN regarding the deployment of the African Union Mission (AMISOM) in Somalia.

They welcomed the initiative of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia for national reconciliation and dialogue, and reiterated their respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of the country.

The leaders also urged the international community to assist the TFG and people of Somalia, to strengthen their achievements through unconditional and tangible political, economic, financial and humanitarian support.

Among the other matters under discussion were international terrorism, the relations between the Sudan and Chad, and the enhancing of regional economic cooperation, with a Frame Work Agreement for the Promotion of Banking Relations and a bilateral agreement on the avoidance of double taxation between Ethiopia and the Sudan were signed.

The assembled leaders expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Meles, the Government and people of Ethiopia for their warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to them and their delegations during their stay in Addis Ababa.

ENDS