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| Africa Horn | |
| In Iran, Somali FM pleads with Muslim states to help | |
| 2009-12-31 | |
Ali Ahmed Jama made the comment during a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in Tehran on Tuesday afternoon. The Somali foreign minister said that Mogadishu was currently passing through a transition stage that involved rebuilding government institutions and securing calm. In an earlier meeting with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, Ahmed Jama also explained that at the moment setting up government and public service institutions was Mogadishu's leading reconstruction priority. "Somalia is experiencing a harsh period after two decades of crisis and disorder. Extremism, internal strife, organized crime and terrorism are not only threatening Somalia, but the whole region," he said, according to a translation of his comments. In both meetings, the Iranian side also noted that a stable and secure Somalia was important for Tehran. Mottaki and Larijani both said that the Islamic Republic was ready to offer any form of assistance and support to Somalia through the African Union. The Iranian parliament speaker said that Tehran was happy to see a central government in place in Somalia, adding that he hoped lasting peace would return to the African state. Mottaki pointed out that Iran was serious in its pledge to assist Mogadishu, while sending out an appeal to all "Somali groups, regional states, and members of the international community" to do the same. "We believe that extremism and terrorism will not only have an adverse effect on the people of Somalia, but will also impact the region and the international community." "It will especially have negative outcomes for trade and shipping. So, we must all try to help restore peace and security to Somalia through diplomacy and cooperation," said the top Iranian diplomat. Mottaki also said that Iran's private sector was ready to participate in industrial and economic reconstruction projects in Somalia, particularly those that involve building hospitals and schools. | |
| Posted by:Fred |