By Goth Mohamed Goth
H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) met with Turkish Ambassador to Somaliland- Somalia H.E. Cemalettin Kani Torun who arrived in the country earlier today.
H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) during the meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Somaliland- Somalia H.E. Cemalettin Kani Torun discussed a wide range of issues among them the stalled talks and to find ways in which Somaliland and Turkey would enhance the existing political and bilateral relations but also to increase trade and investment as means of reinforcing commercial and economic relations.
The Minister in Charge of Presidential Affairs Hon Hersi Haji Ali Hassan speaking to members of the press corps moments after emerging from the closed door meeting had this to say, “Today we had the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues among them the stalled talks between Somaliland and Somalia of which I would like to clearly state our position remains the same regarding the stalled talks with Somalia until the egregious conduct by Somalia is rectified.
“Having said so , I do mean the government of the Republic of Somaliland won’t engage in further talks with the federal government of Somalia as long insists in the inclusion of certain officials of Somaliland origins in its delegation. Both parties had agreed at the outset of the Dialogue process not to include representatives in their respective delegations who originated from the other nation,” he said.
Turkish Ambassador to Somaliland- Somalia speaking during the press conference said, “Today we had a very fruitful meeting with President Silanyo in which we discussed issues regarding the current stalled Somaliland and Somalia talks of which the Turkish government is committed to revive in the near future this while taking to account the consideration both parties and which we are hopeful we shall start the talks once again based on the mutual concerns of all parties.
“We also discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Somaliland. We have presented to the Somaliland government future proposals and as you’re are aware off Somaliland is the center of our historical ties hence the need to expand our presence here and also develop the existing political and commercial exchange in the coming years and developing mutual relations in the field investment we now have a moment of opportunity to build stronger ties at all levels, thank you so much”, the Turkish Envoy said.
Earlier this year a high-level delegation representing the Government of the Republic of Somaliland traveled to Istanbul, Turkey to participate in the next round of talks with the Federal Government of Somalia, as envisaged by the communiqué signed in Djibouti in December 2014 by the Presidents of Somaliland and Somalia. In the lead up to the Istanbul meeting, Somaliland wrote letters of protest to Somalia and Turkey for unilateral actions taken by Somalia which sought to undermine the Dialogue.