London conference was beneficial to Somaliland

London conference was beneficial to Somaliland

Somaliland's participation in the London conference has been termed as a wise and beneficial move for it Provided Silanyo with an opportunity to stare world leaders in the face while reiterating the country's irrevocable sovereignty

This was said by Amb David Shinn during an exclusive interview with the Horn and Geeska newspaper in Washington DC

Below is the full excerpt of the interview

Question and answers of Dr. David Shinn

Q. 1. Do you see the anything in the last communiqué of London meeting which will ease hardships faced by Somalia population for the last two decades, or would go the way earlier meetings or gone? And what did Somaliland gain in that meeting?

1 I believe President Silanyo was wise to attend the 23 February 2012 London Conference on Somalia. It provided an opportunity to express Somaliland's position on developments in the region. The final communique of the London Conference is a very general document, but it "welcomed the success in some areas of Somalia in establishing local areas of stability, and agreed to increase support to build legitimate and peaceful authorities, and improve services to people living in these areas." This is clearly a reference to areas such as Somaliland and should result in more international financial assistance to Somaliland.


Q. 2. The Conference recognized the need for the international community to support any dialogue that Somaliland and the TFG or its replacement may agree to establish in order to clarify their future relations. Seen in that context, how do you see that dialogue happening, and if South Somalia rejects independence of Somaliland, how will Somaliland people gain recognition?


2. The only specific reference to Somaliland in the final communique states that the "Conference recognized the need for the international community to support any dialogue that Somaliland and the TFG or its replacement may agree to establish in order to clarify their future relations." While this statement does not offer any support for Somaliland's bid for independence, it puts the international community on the record for supporting dialogue in resolving differences between Somalia and Somaliland.


Q. 3. President Silanyo launched the Somaliland Development Corporation saying it will help attract foreign direct investment to Somaliland, how do you see such an office attracting foreign investors?


3. The longer that Somaliland is able to maintain stability, the greater is the likelihood that international investors will take a serious look at investing there. Security setbacks will deter investment. Because Somaliland is not recognized by the international community, certain legal impediments will persist. The launching of a Somaliland Development Corporation may encourage some new investment, but continuing stability and the identification of profitable investment opportunities will be more important.

Q. 4. How do you see the participation of Somaliland in the forthcoming meetings on Somalia matters like Turkey one on piracy?

3. In my view, it is in the interest of Somaliland to continue to participate in upcoming conferences dealing with Somalia and Somali piracy. Somaliland can use these conferences to underscore that pirates do not come from Somaliland, but from other parts of the country.


http://somalilandsun.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=331:london-conference-was-beneficial-to-somaliland&catid=30:politics
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