Readout of the Secretary-General's bilateral meetings on the margins of the Istanbul Conference on Somalia

The Secretary-General had a wide range of separate bilateral meetings while in Istanbul for today's international conference on Somalia. He met H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia. They discussed Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, and Eritrea. The Secretary-General thanked Ethiopia for its role in the recent Somalia meeting in Addis Ababa and the resumed talks between Sudan and South Sudan. The Secretary-General's meeting with H.E. Mr. William Hague, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, focussed on developments in Syria. The Secretary-General said he was concerned that the situation in Syria had deteriorated. They also discussed Somalia and Western Sahara.

In his meeting with the President of Djibouti, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, the Secretary-General thanked the President for contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). He said the international community had a political and moral responsibility to help the Somali people, and that Djibouti had demonstrated its strong commitment.

The Secretary-General met the President of Burundi, H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza, and thanked him for the great contribution and sacrifices of Burundi's troops in AMISOM.

In his meeting with the Prime Minister of Yemen, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Salim Basendwah, the Secretary-General received an update on recent developments in the country and said the United Nations would continue to play a support role in the Yemen-led transition as needed.

The Secretary-General also spoke with the President of Somalia, H.E. Mr. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. He said Somalia would have the full support of the United Nations. He said international assistance should be predictable and long term. The Secretary-General also stressed the importance of ensuring at least 30 percent of those appointed in all institutions should be women.

In his meeting with the Prime Minister of Kenya, H.E. Mr. Raila Odinga, the Secretary-General discussed Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan and preparations for Kenya's next elections. He encouraged the coalition government to work in a cohesive manner to ensure the elections are peaceful. He pledged continued UN support.

His meeting with H.E. Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda, focussed on Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The Secretary-General said he was encouraged by Uganda's recent arrest of an LRA leader.