PERMANENT MISSION OF THE SOMALI   REPUBLIC TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY Dr. ABDIKASSIM SALAD HASSAN

PRESIDENT OF THE SOMALI REPUBLIC

 

 

AT THE PLENARY OF THE FIFTY FIFTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS

 

THE UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

SEPTEMBER 15, 2000

 

 

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

It is a singular honor and privilege for me to be here today to address this 55th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. On this auspicious occasion, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate your Excellency on your unanimous election to this eminent position. Taking into account your Excellency's wide experience in international affairs, I am confident that you will successfully contribute to the work and deliberations before this Assembly. Permit me also, Mr. President, to pay special tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency, Mr. Theo Ben Gurirab, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Namibia, who conducted the affairs of the Assembly in a most successful manner during his term of office. Our profound gratitude also goes to our able and dynamic Secretary‑General, His Excellency, Mr. Koffi Annan, who showed exemplary leadership and demonstrated efficiency in managing the activities of our organization. Indeed, he has played a pivotal role in the enhancement of the organization's aims and objectives, and in furthering peace, stability and international cooperation the world over.

 

Mr. President,

 

I am highly honored to address this distinguished Assembly today in the presence of my colleague and brother, His Excellency, Mr. Ismael Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti. In this regard, I would like to pay special tribute for the exceptional role played by His Excellency, his government and the people of Djibouti in our recently concluded National Reconciliation Conference, held in Arta, a resort town near Djibouti.

 

In contrast to the previous twelve Somali Reconciliation Conferences, held in the past ten years in various capitals, the Arta Reconciliation Conference was unique and more focused. While the previous Reconciliation Conferences were based on attempts to reconcile the personal differences and rivalries between power‑seeking faction leaders, the Arta conference, on the other hand, concentrated essentially on the constructive engagement and interaction of the various components of the Somali society such as: traditional clan elders and sultans, religious leaders, intellectuals, politicians and representatives of the various sectors of the Somali society. More than two thousand delegates from inside and outside the country attended the conference, the deliberations of which continued for more than five months.

 

It was in the context of this transparent process that a consensus was reached on the agenda and criteria for participation in the conference, based on a balanced and equitable representation among the various clans in the country. In pursuance of this innovative approach, the conference conducted its business. This led to the general agreement on the adoption of a Transitional Charter. The Charter, inter alia, provided for the establishment of the basic constitutional organs of the Third Republic of the Somali State, namely the National Assembly, the President, the Council of Ministers, and an independent judiciary. In accordance with these transitional measures, the first organ that the conference established was the National Assembly. In turn the National Assembly elected the President in a fair and free manner in the presence of observers and representatives of the international community.

 

The outcome of the Arta Reconciliation Conference received an overwhelming endorsement of the Somali people within the country and in the Diaspora. Strong messages of support and pledges poured into Arta from all regions of the country and from Somali communities abroad.

 

Mr. President,

 

In contrast to the anarchy and civil war, which prevailed in Somalia for the past ten years, the creation of the National Assembly and the election of the President ushered a new era for peace and stability and constituted the first step of restoring order and central authority in the country. This was indeed translated into reality during my recent visit to Mogadisho and Baidoa. The spontaneous reaction of hundreds of thousands of people who welcomed us in both cities demonstrated vividly that they wanted to leave years of civil war behind and open a new era of peace, tranquility, good governance, restoration of the rule of law and national unity. In this connection, let me emphasize the fact that the majority of the Somali people in the regions that we were not able to visit, including the regions in the Northwest and Northeast of the country, uphold a shared commitment and optimism for the unity and future progress of the country. With regard to the warlords and individuals who still remain outside the reconciliation process, we express our full preparedness to engage with them in peaceful dialogue, and we call upon them to review their positions, hear the voice of reason, and respect the legitimate aspirations of the Somali people to achieve national unity, social and economic development and durable peace all over the country.

 

Mr. President,

 

The challenges that the Somali Republic faces today are monumental. My government is prepared to meet these challenges with a realistic approach. We understand that our country stands today in a crisis of serious proportions. We shall exercise care, compassion and objectivity to manage this crisis and overcome it in the final end. There has been large‑scale destruction of the physical infrastructure and resources in both urban and rural areas. Generations of children did not go to school for almost two decades. A good number of high level managerial staff and skilled technicians left the country. The role of the international community to assist us in peace building, rehabilitation and reconstruction is, therefore, of pivotal importance for us. There should be no relaxation by the international community in the overall effort to provide humanitarian and developmental assistance to the Somali Republic.

 

We will engage Somali professionals and technical experts inside and outside the country to be actively involved in all reconstruction programs and projects. We will also give indigenous and international NGOs and relevant UN agencies all necessary help and assistance to be able to contribute effectively in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the country.

 

Mr. President,

 

I would like to emphasize that my government would place particular emphasis in the following priority areas in the immediate future:

 

      a) Restoration of peace, stability and national unity and formation of an effective security force to consolidate peace, stability and national unity

b)   Disarmament of the militias and their encampment and subsequent rehabilitation and training in all the regions of the country

      c) Maintenance of law and order through the creation of effective law enforcement agencies and professional courts of law.

 

Within the framework of this policy, my government will promote and consolidate peace, security and unity in the country at large.

 

At the international level, we re‑affirm our unqualified support to the principles and objectives of the United Nations and pledge to cooperate with relevant regional and sub‑regional organizations, namely the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and the Inter‑Governmental Authority on Development. We shall also maintain and strengthen our relations with the European Union. We would like to open new vistas of cooperation and economic ties with other organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

 

My government will promote strong links of cooperation with the countries of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, based on the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality of States and non‑interference in internal affairs of other states as provided in the Charter of the United Nations. We will promote economic partnership, open borders and common services of ports within the countries of the Horn of Africa.

 

In conclusion, my delegation requests this Assembly to facilitate the adoption of a resolution under the title of Assistance to the Somali Republic in the following areas of need:

 

1)    Urgent assistance from member States for the

rehabilitation and reconstruction of Somalia

 

2)    Resumption of the sustained economic cooperation

with the international community in general and with

member States of the United Nations in particular

 

3)       Calling on relevant UN agencies and organizations to

          redouble their efforts in providing financial and

          material assistance to the people of Somalia

 

Finally, I wish to extend my profound appreciation to the United Nations for the commendable role it has played in the efforts to alleviate the plight of the Somali people in the last ten years. We also wish to express our appreciation for the efforts of the world body for its continued search for a solution for our political crisis through out the decade and for its continued humanitarian support and assistance to the Somali people. I am confident that the United Nations will continue to provide support for the realization of the aspirations of the Somali people for stability, peace and development.