By M.A. Egge
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Somaliland Dr. Issa Keyd Mohamud has told the people of Somaliland not to worry about the talks being pushed by the Turkish government to mediate between the governments of Somalia and Ethiopia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Somaliland Mr. Issa Keyd also said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the governments of Somaliland and Ethiopia is nearing completion and that the official agreement will be implemented in due course as soon as possible.
Speaking about the matter, the minister said, “I am telling the people of Somaliland that the agreement is nearing its end, and it will be duly implemented as soon as possible, and nothing else is expected out of it other than its success and I urge the people of Somaliland not to worry about its implementation of the MoU agreement nor about the Turkish talks that does not concern us”.
The minister conveyed the message as he was interviewed by the BBC’s Somali-language service.
He said, “The aspirations of the people of Somaliland is to control their destiny, their land, their sea and their security, it is important for the nation to know that the talks between Somalia and Ethiopia are not related to the mutual understanding agreement reached by Somaliland and Ethiopia.”
Minister Issa Keyd pointed out that the Turkish government is not neutral at all in the conflicts of the region and that they were biased in favour of Somalia.
He observed, “When you look at the messages that Turkey made in the press release it issued the previous week, it denoted Somalia waters, but in essence Somaliland’s marines is not that of Somalia”.
He sai that it ought to be known by all concerned that Somaliland is a separate entity from Somalia and the two should not be confused with.
Of note is the fact that the Turkish bias may be centered on the fact that they have freely been apportioned Somalia resources and that their interests are partisan.
The minister stated, “Turkey has managed to get Somalia’s resources and minerals for free, so it is clear that it can never be neutral. So we say that Turkey should never think that it can make the sea of Somaliland one that Somalia hold sway over (may dish out anyhow)”.
He underscored, “The plan for the MoU agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia is going as planned, and it is going well. The meetings in Ankara will not affect the progress of the agreement, which will soon turn into an official agreement”.
He underpinned by telling the Turks, “I am telling the Turkish government and anyone who thinks that Somalia has ability to apportion Somaliland’s territory to anyone that they are illusory and far from reality”.
He was quick to point out that the vivid lack of tenacity as concerns the Turkish brokered Ethio-Somalia talks has caused the breakdown of the talks to happen twice in succession.